Posted on 20 May 2025
South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) has officially implemented five-year anti-dumping duties on stainless steel flat-rolled products imported from China, Indonesia, and Taiwan, effective 16 May 2025.
The new regulation targets stainless flat-rolled steel products with a thickness of 8mm or less. The products affected come under HS codes 7219.12.1010, 7219.12.1090, 7219.12.9000, 7219.13.1010, 7219.13.1090, 7219.13.9000, 7219.14.1010, 7219.14.1090, 7219.14.9000, 7219.22.1010, 7219.22.1090, 7219. 22.9000, 7219.23.1010, 7219.23.1090, 7219.23.9000, 7219.24.1010, 7219.24.1090, 7219.24.9000, 7219.31.1010, 7219.31.1090, 7219.31.9000, 7219.32.1010, 7219.32.1090, 7219.32. 9000, 7219.33.1010, 7219.33.1090, 7219.33.9000, 7219.34.1010, 7219.34.1090, 7219.34.9000, 7219.35.1010, 7219.35.1090, 7219.35.9000, 7219.90.1010, 7219.90.1090, 7219.90.90 00, 7220.11.1010, 7220.11.1090, 7220.11.9000, 7220.12.1010, 7220.12.1090, 7220.12.9000, 7220.20.1010, 7220.20.1090, 7220.20.9000, 7220.90.1010, 7220.90.1090 and 7220.90.9000.
Final duties mirror the rates last imposed in 2021, Kallanish notes.
Chinese exporters will now face duties ranging from 23.69% to 25.82%, Indonesian suppliers are set at a flat rate of 25.82%, and Taiwanese exporters will be subject to rates between 7.17% and 9.47% (see table below).
Notably, several exporters under investigation have sidestepped these duties by committing to raise their export prices.
These include Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel, TISCO Stainless Steel (H.K.), TISCO Trading (H.K.), Shanxi Taigang Bonded & Comprehensive Service, Angang Lianzhong Stainless Steel Corporation.
As well as PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel, PT Indonesia Guang Ching Nickel and Stainless Steel Industry, PT Indonesia Ruipu Nickel and Chrome Alloy.
And Eternal Tsingshan Group, Golden Harbour International, Yieh United Steel Corporation, Yieh Mau Corp, Tang Eng Iron Works, Yieh Corporation Limited and Walsin Lihwa Corporation.
The MOEF also outlined several exemptions to ensure that specialized or high-grade products, which do not significantly impact the domestic market, remain unaffected. Among the exempt items are stainless steels that meet specific international standards such as ASTM S31254 and S31803, as well as certain Chinese GB-standard grades.
Products with unique chemical compositions or dimensions, such as 200-series stainless steels with low nickel and high manganese content, hot-rolled products over 2,000mm in width, and 316/316L grades with exact thickness and width, are also excluded. Additionally, niche products like cold-rolled stainless steel sheets coated on both sides with nitrile butadiene rubber are exempt, provided they meet strict composition and thickness criteria.
Source:Kallanish
