Oman imposes anti-dumping duties on tile imports from China, India
MUSCAT: Starting May 29, Oman will begin applying anti-dumping duties on ceramic and porcelain tile imports from China and India at all customs ports. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion announced the move as part of the GCC Unified Law on Anti-Dumping, Countervailing, and Safeguard Measures.
Nasra bint Sultan al Habsi, Director General of Commerce and GCC committee member, said the decision follows complaints from Gulf tile manufacturers about unfairly priced imports flooding local markets. A year-long investigation, led by the GCC's technical office, reviewed the claims and concluded that dumping practices were harming local industry. Based on its findings, the GCC Permanent Committee approved the duties for a period of five years.
Ahmed bin Salem al Rasbi, Director General of the Competition and Anti-Monopoly Center, described the measure as a strategic move to protect the competitiveness of national industries. He noted that dumping distorts prices and undermines local manufacturers, while the new duties will promote fair trade, enhance product quality, expand local production, and generate jobs.
'This step ensures price stability and protects consumers in the long run by encouraging local investments and guarding against monopolistic practices,' he added.
Khalid bin Issa l Ameri, head of Consumer Services and Market Control at the Consumer Protection Authority, said the Authority is actively monitoring the implementation of the duties. Inspections of tile retailers are being intensified to ensure price compliance and detect any irregularities.
He warned that legal action will be taken against violators and urged suppliers to follow the law. Consumers are encouraged to report any misconduct related to tile pricing or sales. — ONA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Muscat Daily
a day ago
- Muscat Daily
Plans underway for centralised used car market in Muscat
Muscat – Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) held a workshop on Wednesday titled 'Regulating the Used Vehicle Sales Sector' as part of efforts to enhance collaboration with the private sector and create a more organised commercial environment. The workshop was attended by H E Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, with Majlis A'Shura members and representatives from Muscat Municipality, Royal Oman Police, Ministry of Interior and the General Administration of Customs. Stakeholders and representatives from used car dealerships across the country also participated. Nasra bint Sultan al Habsi, Director General of Commerce at MoCIIP, said the sector makes a significant contribution to the national economy and reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to regulating it and promoting a supportive business climate. She described the workshop as a platform to address challenges and find practical solutions. Participants highlighted several key issues including the absence of a centralised location for dealership operations, which leads to fragmented services and higher costs. Other concerns included the need to better regulate non-Omani participation to protect local businesses, high rental fees, limited financing, costly customs clearance and the presence of unlicensed vendors. Khazaen Economic City presented a proposal to develop a centrally located market for used vehicles in Muscat governorate. The project, currently under review, aims to bring all dealerships together in one integrated hub with dedicated facilities and services. Mansour bin Khalifa al Siyabi, Majlis A'Shura member from Bausher, welcomed MoCIIP's dialogue with stakeholders on the matter and suggested offering financial incentives to help dealerships move to the new site. He proposed forming a closed joint-stock company owned by dealers to manage the market and ensure sustainable operations and fair rents. Providing details of the planned central car market, Salim bin Sulaiman al Thuhli, CEO of Khazaen Economic City, said it would cover 500,000sqm and include showrooms for new and used cars, inspection and maintenance centres, insurance and registration services, auction facilities and various amenities such as banks, restaurants, fuel stations and parking. Thuhli said the project is designed to provide a one-stop hub for consumers and modern infrastructure for dealers, while supporting urban planning, simplifying government monitoring and generating reliable data for policymaking. Ali bin Hamad al Maamari, Director of Licensing Department at MoCIIP, said the workshop was part of a wider strategy to improve Oman's business environment and that its recommendations would be submitted to relevant authorities for follow-up. The workshop concluded with calls to commence work on the proposed central market and implement agreed measures to regulate the sector and facilitate a competitive, investor-friendly climate.
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Attractive investment environment stimulates growth in Oman
The Sultanate of Oman's ongoing efforts to enhance its financial and economic position by managing its financial commitments and by reducing its public debt, have led to a steady improvement in its credit ratings and have improved investor confidence in the Omani economy. Consequently, these positive indicators have also created an attractive investment environment that stimulates growth across various economic sectors in the country. Oman's economy has achieved a surplus of RO 540 million against the budgeted deficit of RO 640 million for the financial year 2024 and the GDP at constant prices rose by 1.7%, to reach RO 38.305 billion in 2024 compared to 2024. Further, Oman has reduced its public debt by RO 660 million which stood at RO 14.6 billion by the end of 2024 compared to the previous year. Percentage wise the external debt of the Sultanate of Oman is 38% of the GDP which is far below, compared to our GCC neighbors Bahrain which is estimated at 134% of the GDP at the end of 2024 followed by Qatar at 41% and Kuwait at 39% (2023). UAE with 32% and Saudi Arabia with 25 % (2023) are closely behind. In line with Oman's progress, the credit rating agencies have given a positive outlook for the Sultanate which is quite encouraging and promising. By the end of September 2024, S&P had upgraded Oman's credit rating from 'BB+' to 'BBB-', thus restoring its investment-grade status after years of downgrades due to the financial crisis associated with falling oil prices and the Covid-19 pandemic. Similarly other credit rating agencies like Fitch and Moody's had also revised Oman's outlook from stable to positive. It is very important to understand that a credit rating of BBB- is better than BB+. BBB- is considered investment grade, while BB+ is considered non-investment grade or speculative grade. Generally, higher ratings indicate a lower risk of default and a greater capacity to meet the country's financial obligations. Factors affecting credit ratings vary for governments, corporate bonds, including economic conditions, political stability, industry dynamics, and company-specific factors. Oman is proud of this evolving economic landscape and is at the same time remain mindful of the global challenges, including ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions which are quite unfortunate. But we recognize the unique opportunities they present for the Sultanate. As we move forward let's hope to regain the peace and harmony that existed amongst our brothers which had been the hallmark of the flourishing communities in the Middle East. Let us continue to lead with purpose, serve with integrity, and build with the same spirit that has carried the people of Oman throughout the ages.
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Oman courts global investors at Russia forum
BUSINESS REPORTER ST PETERSBURG, JUNE 21 The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, concluded its participation in the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), reaffirming its commitment to global economic dialogue and cross-border investment engagement. Oman spotlighted its integrated business ecosystem and priority sectors under Oman Vision 2040, which aims to foster a resilient and diversified economy. SPIEF 2025 attracted approximately 20,000 participants from 140 countries, maintaining robust international engagement. The Forum featured more than 150 events, ranging from thematic panels and plenary sessions to business breakfasts and bilateral dialogues. High-profile attendees included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, Bahraini royal Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile — alongside senior officials from nearly 50 countries, including Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Central African Republic. Their presence underscored SPIEF's role as a pivotal platform for fostering multipolar economic cooperation. The Omani delegation was led by Ibtisam bint Ahmed Al Farooji, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion, who spearheaded a series of high-level meetings and sector-focused engagements. The delegation's program included participation in key forum sessions, bilateral meetings with institutional investors, and exploratory visits to major corporate pavilions. This year, Oman's focus centered on promoting investment in four high-potential sectors: luxury tourism, logistics, food security, and mining — each aligned with national efforts to position Oman as a competitive and future-ready investment destination. As part of its engagement, Oman organized a dedicated roundtable with leading Russian companies active in these sectors. The session provided a platform to present the Sultanate's competitive advantages, regulatory reforms, and infrastructure readiness, while facilitating direct dialogue with potential investors and strategic partners. 'Oman is focused on high-value investment, enabling enterprise through streamlined digital platforms, and scaling public-private partnerships—an area where we bring over two decades of institutional experience. Our business climate continues to strengthen, supported by policy clarity, legal reform, and competitive market access.' She highlighted Oman's upgraded credit rating by Standard & Poor's in 2024 as a signal of fiscal stability and investor confidence, adding that the Sultanate is actively translating these gains into tangible investment momentum across key sectors—from green hydrogen and advanced manufacturing to integrated tourism and logistics. Trade and economic cooperation between Oman and Russia continues to deepen. As of February 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached RO 30.9 million. Notably, Omani exports to Russia surged from RO 582,602 in 2022 to RO 3.35 million in 2023 — a remarkable 475% increase. Imports from Russia totaled RO 188.4 million, highlighting the scale and diversification of commercial ties between the two countries. Oman's participation in SPIEF 2025 aligns with its broader strategy to enhance investor outreach in key international markets, particularly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. By leveraging global platforms such as SPIEF, Oman is actively cultivating a network of institutional investors and strategic partners to catalyze sustainable development and high-impact investment. As part of the official business programme, Oman participated in the SPIEF session titled 'Greater Eurasia: Drivers for the Formation of an Integrated Investment Market.' Al Farooji joined global investment leaders to explore policy tools that can accelerate cross-border capital flows. Discussions addressed market integration, institutional readiness, and innovative investment instruments — themes that closely align with Oman's ongoing investment reform agenda.
