19. 12. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 329/11 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2412/96 of 18 December 1996 introducing prior Community surveillance of imports of certain iron and steel products covered by the ECSC and EC Treaties originating in certain third countries THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3285/94 of 22 December 1994 on common rules for imports and repealing Regulation (EC) No 518/94 ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2315/96 (%), and in particular Article 11 thereof, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 519/94 of 7 March 1994 on common rules for imports from certain third countries and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 1765/82, (EEC) No 1766/82 and (EEC) No 3420/83 (%), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1897/96 (*), and in par- ticular Article 9 (1) thereof, Consultations having taken place within the Committees set up under the Regulations referred to above, Whereas by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2914/95 (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 464/96 (%), imports in to the Community of certain iron and steel products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community and the Treaty establishing the European Community were subject to a priori Community surveillance; Whereas in accordance with the provisions of Regulations (EC) No 3285/94 and (EC) No 519/94, products covered by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community are subject to the common rules for imports and it is therefore necessary that the arrangements for Community surveillance measures in respect of ECSC products be adopted in accordance with the provisions of those Regulations; Whereas the steel market in the Community has been unstable in recent years, partly due to pressure from imports and notably from regions with excessive produc- tion capacity and weak domestic consumption. The steel market was still relatively unstable in 1996 and it is diffi- () OJ No L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 53. ) OJ No L 314, 4. 12. 1996, p. 1. () OJ No L 67, 10. 3. 1994, p. 89. (% OJ No L 250, 2. 10. 1996, p. 1. () OJ No L 305, 19. 12. 1995, p. 23. () OJ No L 65, 15. 3. 1996, p. 4. cult to forecast trends for 1997 owing to the absence of recent trade statistics. However, the economic indicators which are currently available show the following trends: A. Production. In 1995, production of crude steel in the Community amounted to 156 million tonnes, 2,6 % higher than in 1994. During the first nine months of 1996, Community production decreased by 7,7 % compared with the same period in 1995. For 1996 as a whole, production is expected to fall to 148 million tonnes, 5 % below 1995; B. Imports. Imports of ECSC steel products into the Community from all third countries amounted to 17,9 million tonnes in 1995, 60 % of which (10,8 million tonnes) were flat and long products. According to esti- mates based on trends during the first months of 1996, imports for 1996 as a whole should decrease by an average of 16 %. Forecasts are, however, hard to establish with certainty because of the absence of up to date trade statistics for all Member States and important changes in trade structures. The drop in imports during 1996 was preceded by sharp increases of 30 to 35 % in 1995 and in 1994. For some ECSC steel products, these import trends were combined with very low import prices compared to the Commu- nity price level. Furthermore, the average 16 % decrease in the level of imports in 1996 reflects decreases of 37 % for semi-finishes products and 38 % for long products, whereas imports of flat products are estimated to rise by an average of 9 %. Member States are unequally affected by these trends. In some Member States, imports of certain flat products have increased by more than 100 % in the first part of 1996, compared with the same period of 1995; C. Exports. Exports of ECSC steel products decreased by an average of 22 % in 1995 (EUR 12) compared with tota] exports of 23,4 million tonnes in 1994. Exports to specific markets dropped by between 13 % and 45 %. Community exports are provisionally expected to increase by around 7 % per year in 1996 and 1997; D. Similar trends apply to certain steel products covered by the EC Treaty. Imports of certain grain-oriented and non-grain-oriented electrical sheet products subject to the EC Treaty (CN 72261190 and 7226 19 90) increased by more than 100 % in 1995 and remain sensitive for the Community market.