Posted on 14 Aug 2025
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Finance (MOF) have started an anti-dumping investigation into imports of hot-dipped galvanized coil, sheet and strip from South Korea and China. This follows a petition from four major domestic producers.
The action comes after a 28 April filing by Nippon Steel Corporation, Nippon Steel Coated Sheet Corporation, Kobe Steel, and Yodogawa Steel Works, which together represent more than half of Japan's output of the same product. Exporters under investigation include Posco, Hyundai Steel, Dongkuk Steel, KG Steel, China Baowu Steel Group, HBIS Group, Ansteel Group, Baotou Steel Group, Hunan Steel Group, and Tianjin De Cai Cold Rolled Sheet Company.
The targeted products are flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, hot-dip galvanized, classified under HS 7210.49 or 7212.30, and flat-rolled products of alloy steel other than stainless steel, hot-dip galvanized, with specified manganese, boron, or titanium content, classified under HS 7225.92 or 7226.99. These are mainly used in guardrails, housing, fences, and as raw materials for parts of electrical appliances such as refrigerators.
The petition alleges imports were sold in Japan at prices 10-20% below normal value for Korean-origin goods and 30-40% below for Chinese-origin goods, undercutting domestic prices since 2022 and eroding industry margins, Kallanish learns.
Between April 2021 and September 2024, import volumes surged by 76% from Korea to 358,093 tonnes and 27% from China to 304,657t, increasing foreign suppliers' share of the Japanese market, METI notes. The applicants claim that dumped pricing forced local mills to cut selling prices and absorb higher manufacturing costs, resulting in profit declines.
The investigation, to be concluded within a year, will gather evidence from domestic producers, importers, and foreign exporters. If METI and MOF find that dumped imports caused material injury, Japan could impose duties on the targeted products, which are used in construction materials and appliance components.
The probe excludes products from Hong Kong and Macao, as well as certain specialised galvanized steels with specific alloy compositions.
Source:Kallanish
