South Korea Imposes Anti-Dumping Duties on Vietnam’s Cold-Rolled Stainless Steel – Exporters Urged to Proactively Respond

Sharp Increase in Anti-Dumping Duties: A Serious Warning for Vietnam’s Steel Exports

According to an official announcement from the Korea Trade Commission (KTC), two Vietnamese companies subject to mandatory investigation have been hit with anti-dumping duties of 18.81% and 11.37%, respectively. All other Vietnamese exporters are subject to a general duty rate of 11.37%, marking a significant increase from preliminary findings.

The higher duty rate is attributed to KTC's revised calculation method of dumping margins during the investigation, which caused one company's rate to spike from 3.66% to 18.81%.

• Period of dumping investigation: January 1 to December 31, 2023

• Period of injury investigation: January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023

The complaint was filed by POSCO, which alleged a sharp increase in imports of cold-rolled stainless steel from Vietnam, harming South Korea's domestic industry.

Surging Exports Bring Both Opportunities and Trade Defense Risks

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s exports of cold-rolled stainless steel to South Korea have seen remarkable growth over the past four years:

• 2020: ~USD 2.1 million

• 2021: ~USD 5.5 million (+161%)

• 2022: ~USD 194.1 million (+3,400%)

• 2023: ~USD 227.8 million (+14%)

While this strong growth is a positive sign, it also increases the risk of trade defense investigations and measures from importing countries.

What Should Vietnamese Exporters Do?

The imposition of anti-dumping duties serves as a wake-up call for Vietnamese exporters, especially those in the stainless steel sector and other high-risk industries. To effectively respond, companies should:

• Proactively request reviews of duty rates through annual or interim evaluations;

• Stay up to date with technical standards and regulatory changes in the Korean market;

• Optimize logistics costs and ensure compliance in export documentation for greater transparency and efficiency.

Dolphin Sea Air – Your Trusted Logistics Partner for Steel Exports

With over 15 years of expertise in international logistics, Dolphin Sea Air Services Corp. is proud to be a strategic partner for export-oriented businesses, especially during times of market turbulence.

We provide comprehensive logistics solutions that help businesses cut costs, save time, and enhance competitiveness:

• International freight forwarding (sea & air)

• Customs declaration & export documentation consulting

• Domestic transport & warehousing services

• In-depth import-export advisory tailored to target markets

Contact Dolphin today for strategic logistics support to overcome trade defense challenges and expand sustainable exports to South Korea and beyond.

• Hotline: 1900 986813

• Email: info@dolphinseaair.com.vn

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