WORDS ON THE STREET 70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day Vietnam - Asia 2023 Smart City Summit Hanoi celebrates 15 years of administrative boundary adjustment 12th Vietnam-France decentrialized cooperation conference 31st Sea Games - Vietnam 2021 Covid-19 Pandemic
Home / Economy / Trade - Service
Vietnam steel industry shift to local substrates amid looming US punishing tariffs
Ngoc Mai 16:05, 2019/07/11
In 2019, local supply of hot-rolled steel is projected to meet 40% of domestic demands, which is on track to increase to 70 – 80% following the upcoming operation of the US$2.6-billion Hoa Phat Dung Quat iron and steel production complex.
Vietnam’s steel industry has shifted its focus on using local substrates for production, making it less dependent on foreign input materials amid 400%-plus US tariffs on steel products originated from South Korea and Taiwan, Tuoi Tre News reported. 
 
Illustrative photo.
Illustrative photo.
In 2019, local supply of hot-rolled steel is projected to meet 40% of domestic demands, which is on track to increase to 70 – 80% following the upcoming operation of the US$2.6-billion Hoa Phat Dung Quat iron and steel production complex, according to Vietnam Steel Association (VSA). 

As of present, domestic production of hot-rolled steel reached 1.7 million tons, while imported ones were 3.25 million tons, of which South Korea and Taiwan accounted for 15 – 16% of Vietnam’s total imports of the products, and the remaining were from Japan, Belgium and Austria. 

To minimize risk and diversify markets, VSA urged local enterprises to prioritize local input materials from Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS), or importing inputs from countries other than South Korea or Taiwan to avoid US tariffs. 

VSA and government agencies are providing information regarding steel production in Vietnam to the US to meet its strict requirements over product origin. 

In the first five months of 2019, Vietnam exported 235,000 tons of steel products to the US worth US$185 million, down 37% in quantity and 40% in value year-on-year. Of the total, 80 – 85% of the products were cold-rolled steel and corrosion-resistant steel products. 

The amount of steels exported to the US accounted for 8.6% of total Vietnam’s steel exports, significantly lower than the rate of 14% recorded in the same period last year. 
Other news
10:42, 2025/01/22
Vietnam, Switzerland upgrade bilateral ties to comprehensive partnership
The two countries will deepen cooperation in areas such as innovation, green finance, intellectual property, and the exchange of expertise on developing international financial centers in Vietnam.
12:19, 2025/01/21
The Czech Republic sees Vietnam as most important economic partner in SEA
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expects bilateral trade turnover to reach US$5 billion in the coming years.
21:45, 2025/01/15
Hanoi seeks 5% export growth in 2025
The city’s total import-export turnover reached US$60.1 billion in 2024, up 11% year-on-year.
08:41, 2025/01/11
Vietnam-Laos Industrial Park: New direction to strengthen bilateral ties
Numerous Vietnamese projects in various sectors have effectively contributed to Laos' development, creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of tens of thousands of local workers.
22:19, 2025/01/09
Hanoi's foreign trade turnover hits US$60.1bn in 2024
The city will continue to support businesses in exploring new markets, capitalizing on the Free Trade Agreement of which Vietnam is a member.
11:46, 2025/01/09
Vietnam confident of achieving 8% growth rate in 2025
Key drivers of Vietnam’s growth include institutional reforms and decentralized governance.