US customs probe exports labelled as Spanish

摘要

LONDON -- Silicon exports from Spain are at the centre of a probe by US Customs officials, following the interception of a number of consignments of metal allegedly bearing Spanish markings in Buffalo, New York and Chicago. Suspicions grew when Ferroatlantica told the US authorities that, as Spain's only significant silicon metal producer; it had not exported any material to the country this year. Despite this, US Customs records purportedly show 1,500 tonnes of silicon has arrived from Spain so far this year. Its records also suggest Spain's silicon exports were 5,000 tonnes in 2001, but Ferroatlantica said its US exports were only 2,000 tonnes that year.