The duties range from 23.1 per cent to 27.8 per cent and apply to flat-rolled steel or alloy steel products (with or without alloy), hot-rolled, with thickness between 1.2mm and 25.4mm, and width not exceeding 1,880mm. These products are not surface-treated and contain no more than 0.3 per cent carbon. Stainless steel and hot-rolled plate products are excluded.
The ministry’s investigation concluded that HRC imported from China and India was dumped, causing significant damage to the domestic industry. However, imports from India accounted for less than 3 per cent of the total, and were deemed negligible.
This move is expected to benefit local HRC producers, including Hoa Phat and Formosa Ha Tinh, which together produce 8.6 million tonnes annually, compared to a domestic demand of around 13 million tonnes. Previously, local HRC prices were higher than imports, limiting competitiveness.
In March 2024, Hoa Phat and Formosa filed a request to investigate dumping by Chinese and Indian exporters. In July 2024, the ministry launched a formal investigation, followed by the imposition of temporary duties in February 2025 ranging from 19.3 per cent to 27.8 per cent. Despite the probe, Chinese HRC imports rose to 12.6 million tonnes in 2024, up more than 33 per cent year-on-year.
