Displaying items by tag: Tax
APCMA calls for action on Iranian imports
10 November 2015Pakistan: The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has said that the growth in the domestic economy has supported overall growth in the cement industry. However it added that the industry has had to approach various decision makers to stop the influx of Iranian cement into Pakistan from Iran via Balochistan. The APCMA said that the industry needs a safeguard mechanism to be put in place to stop the adverse effects of cement smuggling into the country. It stated that the government should impose a 20% Regulatory Duty for import of cement in addition to the current customs duty.
The APCMA spokesperson added that, due to the high cost of doing business in Pakistan, the country's cement industry is losing competitiveness to other countries such as Iran, the UAE and India. The industry has appealed for reduction in energy costs, removal of taxes imposed on gas, a reduction of custom duty on coal to zero and an additional incentive of 5% on export of cement by sea.
Statistics indicate that the cement sector is now almost completely dependent on domestic sales, the share of which has increased to over 80% of total cement sales compared to just 50% in 2008 - 2009, as domestic sales continue to increase, while exports are showing constant decline. Cement dispatches to domestic markets during the month of October 2015 were 2.6Mt compared with 2.1Mt during October 2014, an increase of 24% year-on-year.
Ghana Cement Manufacturing Association approves of import tax rise
03 September 2015Ghana: The Ghana Cement Manufacturing Association (GCMA) has approved of a government customs decision to increase the cost and freight value of imported bagged cement into the country. The valuation of Freight on Board (FOB) for the import of bagged cement has been increased to US$60/t from US$25/t, according to GCMA Chairman and Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of Ghacem, George Dawson-Ahmoah.
"We are appealing to international cement manufacturing companies who know the international cement market trade to abide by fair trade practices to safeguard the industry, because it has consequences like workers losing their jobs, lower taxes to the government and folding-up of local cement companies — which would be disastrous for the nation," said Dawson-Ahmoah to local media.
Dawson-Ahmoah said that the GCMA was not expecting any value less than US$80/t to cover cost and freight of imported cement from China to Ghana. He added that the country's local cement industry has a 2Mt/yr surplus of cement production capacity following expansion projects. Since lobbying the government on this issue the GCMA has been monitoring movement of imported bagged cement and will continue to insist on fair trade practices.
Pakistani cement producers oppose tax measures
27 July 2015Pakistan: Cement manufacturers have voiced their opposition to the various tax measures announced in the federal budget for 2015 - 2016 that they say will hurt investor sentiments in general and burden cement consumers in particular, according to The Express Tribune.
"Finance minister Ishaq Dar should revisit some fiscal measures that will lead to an increase in the cost of doing business and are against the norms of taxation," said Muhammad Ali Tabba, chairman of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association. In a statement, Tabba pointed out that taxpayers with a taxable income of US$4.91m or more would be liable to pay a 3% super tax, which was discriminatory. The super tax would also be charged on export income, though exports were subject to the final tax regime at the rate of 1%.
Protesting against the increase in import duty from 1% to 5% on coal, Tabba said that while the cement manufacturers were making efforts to reduce the cost of production in order to compete at the global level, the duty hike would increase the business cost. Fuel constitutes more than 50% in the overall production cost and cement manufacturers will have no choice but to pass this additional burden on to consumers, he added.
Nigeria: According to All Africa, Ashaka Cement has filed a suit against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) before the Tax Appeal Tribunal, North West Zone over a US$6.94m tax dispute.
In its statement of claim, Ashaka Cement faulted the tax assessment made by the FIRS and urged the tribunal to review the decision. It alleged that, in December 2014, the FIRS commenced a tax audit exercise on Ashaka Cement with respect to the year 2013.
"Subsequent to the exercise, the respondent issued an invitation / demand notice dated 2 December 2014 on the appellant (Ashaka Cement), assessing unpaid tax liabilities, which the appellant representatives attended on 15 December 2014. The invitation / demand notice contained the breakdown of the assessment made by the Respondent (FIRS). The Appellant received the said letter on the 4 December 2014. The Appellant responded to the said notice by an objection letter dated 22 December 2014 and served on the Respondent on 29 December 2014," said Ashaka Cement.
According to Ashaka Cement, the service of the objection letter was preceded by a reconciliation meeting held between its representatives and the FIRS' representatives on 15 December 2014. It said that vital issues contained in the FIRS' notice were discussed and 'ironed out.' Ashaka Cement argued that the grounds of objection raised in its notice was a reflection of issues raised, canvassed and agreed upon at the reconciliation meeting. It noted that it had assessed its tax liability on technical fees based on estimate only and all supporting documents were attached in form of Appendixes 1-12.
Pakistan: The Pakistan government is working on two options to challenge South African anti-dumping duties on Pakistani exports of cement. The first step will be to hold bilateral consultations with the South African government to resolve the anti-dumping duties favourably. Failing that, then the Pakistan government has the option to take the issue to the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO), according to an official from the Pakistan National Tariff Commission (NTC).
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of 14.3 – 77.2% on Portland Cement originating in or imported from Pakistan from 15 May 2015 for six months. The duty was imposed on bagged cement.
According to local media, Lucky Cement, the major supplier to South Africa with a 55% market share, seems to have had sales volumes little affected by the anit-dumping measure due to its low duty. However, Attock Pakistan, the second largest supplier with a 35% market share, has been the worst hit due to its high anti-dumping duty. Pakistani cement exporters are exploring other markets in southern Africa.
Ghana: The Ghana Cement Manufacturers Association (GCMA), which comprises Ghacem Ltd, Diamond Cement Company Ltd and Savannah Diamond Company Ltd, has appealed to the Ministry of Finance to urgently commence investigation into what it described as the tax liabilities of certain importers of bagged cement into the country.
In a letter dated 26 May 2015 and addressed to the director of taxes at the Finance Ministry, the GCMA said that it had gathered that two importers, SOL Ghana Ltd and Fujiman Sentuo, had allegedly declared cost, insurance, freight (CIF) values of about US$27/t and US$30/t respectively. The letter, jointly signed by George Dawson-Ahmoah, chairman and N Venketash, vice chairman / secretary, stated, 'The alleged values to us as seasoned manufacturers in the cement industry are unbelievable and call for the attention of the tax authorities. Such values, when confirmed, are under-valued leading to huge financial loss to the nation."
South Africa imposes duties on cement
18 May 2015South Africa: South Africa has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of 14.3 – 77.2% on Portland Cement originating in or imported from Pakistan from 15 May 2015 for six months. Lucky Cement is subjected to pay 14.3% duty, followed by Bestway at 77.2%, DG Khan at 68.9%, Attock Pakistan at 63.5% and other cement makers at 62.7%.
This follows an investigation initiated by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) on 22 August 2014 after a number of local cement producing companies submitted an application on behalf of the South African Customs Union (SACU). A number of companies, including Afrisam, Lafarge Africa, NPC Cimpor and PPC, approached the ITAC and established a prima facie case that convinced the commission to initiate an investigation on the basis of dumping, material injury, threat of material injury and causality. However, the application was opposed by Pakistani cement producers, such as Lucky Cement, Bestway Cement, DG Khan Cement and Attock Cement.
The commission found that the industry is suffering material injury through a decline in sales volume and output as well as profits and cash flow. The industry also experienced price undercutting and price suppression. The commission further found that a threat of material injury exists given that Pakistan has increased its production capacity; Pakistan's exports to its traditional markets are declining and imports from Pakistan into South Africa increased by >600% in 2010 - 2013.
The commission made a preliminary determination that Portland cement originating in or imported from Pakistan was dumped into the market. In order to prevent further injury to the industry while the investigation is under way, the commission has requested the SARS (South African Revenue Service) to impose the provisional measures on imported Portland cement originating from Pakistan for six months.
CMA seeks import duty on cement
15 April 2015India: The Cement Manufacturers Association (CMA) is seeking a tax on cement imports to provide a level playing field to the industry.
In a memorandum to various Union Ministries on 10 April 2015, the CMA said that cement was allowed to be imported into India at zero import duty, whereas all the major raw materials required to make cement such as limestone, gypsum, pet coke and packing bags attract import duties.
"To provide a level playing field, the basic customs duty should be levied on imports of cement into India and import duties on goods required for the manufacture of cement be abolished and freely allowed without levy of duty," said the CMA. The CMA also said that there is a case for rationalisation of domestic taxes on the cement sector in order to make it competitive.
"The value-added tax (VAT) on steel is only 4% whereas it is 12.5 – 15% on cement and clinker in different states. Thus there is a need to slash the tax burden by 20 – 25% through rationalisation and lowering of the excise duty to 6 – 8% without the addition of any specific duty," said the CMA. It also demanded that cement be stipulated as 'declared goods' to put it on equal footing with goods like coal and steel and an element of royalty be included in the calculation of drawback rates.
Holcim India fined US$11m for tax evasion
11 August 2014India: Delhi Government's Revenue Department has fined Holcim India US$11m for evasion of stamp duty. It also directed the company to pay stamp duty of US$36m and a penalty of US$11m within 30 days for violation of stamp duty. Collector of Stamps (HQ) Lalit Mohan told local media that Holcim India had violated the payment of stamp duty with the merger of Ambuja Cement.
"The stamp duty on the merger order is payable at the rate of 3% on the total amount of US$1.2bn which comes out to be US$36m... The company is required to adjudicate or pay stamp duty within a period of one month which it failed to do," said Lalit Mohan in the order.
In its submission to the Revenue Department, Holcim India stated that there was no transfer of movable and immovable assets from transferor company (Ambuja Cement) with transferee company (Holcim) except shares held by transferor company in other companies have been transferred to transferee company. Subsequently the company did not see itself as liable for stamp duty.
Brazil: The Foreign Trade Chamber (Camex) of the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade has approved anti-dumping measures against six countries: China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Mexico and the US. The Camex has also added a 4% levy to cement imports.
Dumping is the commercial practice whereby a country exports products at lower prices than those charged domestically in order to cause problems to its competitors. Whenever the practice is confirmed via a probe, imports of the products at hand from the dumping country can be overtaxed. The right to apply anti-dumping duties may be granted permanently or temporarily. Provisional authorisations occur whenever probes uncover signs of dumping. They are valid for up to six months and may be converted into permanent authorisations. The latter occur following more thorough probes and are generally valid for up to five years.
The Camex approved the inclusion of six products on the Exception List to the Mercosur Common External Tariff (Letec). When a product is added, its import tax rate can be raised or lowered in relation to the rate applied by the Latin American block's countries. The rate for cement, which was formerly exempt, will now have a 4% rate levied.