Posted on 15 Aug 2025
India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended the imposition of a fixed anti-dumping duty of $121.55/tonne on imports of hot rolled flat products from Vietnam for five years, as per a ministry notification seen by Kallanish.
The product under consideration covers hot rolled flat products of alloy or non-alloy steel, not clad, not plated or coated, up to 25mm thick and 2,100mm wide, in coils or cut length, excluding stainless steel. They are classified under custom tariff headings 7208, 7211, 7225 and 7226.
The measure will apply to all Vietnamese producers and exporters, except Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel, following the conclusion of an investigation initiated in August 2024. It was initiated at the request of the Indian Steel Association (ISA), on behalf of JSW Steel and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India.
The authority found that imports from Vietnam were entering India at dumped and injurious prices, causing material injury to the domestic industry despite strong domestic sales growth.
Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel JSC was exempted due to a low dumping margin and verified cooperation. Most Vietnamese producers were found dumping HR steel in India at margins of 20-30%, while Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel JSC’s margin was much lower, at 0-10%.
The period of investigation (POI) was 1 January 2023 to 31 March 2024, and the injury investigation period included the fiscal year ending March 2021 (FY21), FY22, FY23 and the POI.
The authority also dismissed arguments that concurrent safeguard and anti-dumping duties would create a “double remedy”, noting that any safeguard duty paid would be offset against the anti-dumping duty.
“Thus, the anti-dumping duty shall be levied only to the extent it exceeds the safeguard duty paid on imports from Vietnam,” the DGTR notes.
The finance ministry will now decide whether to accept the recommendation and impose the duty.
In April, India imposed a 12% safeguard duty on flat products for 200 days following a DGTR recommendation (see Kallanish passim).
Industry reaction has been mostly positive as it is expected to support domestic flat steel prices and ease pressure on Indian mills, with a minimal impact expected on end-user costs. However, importers dependent on Vietnamese HRC may face higher landed costs, although alternative sources remain available.
A market participant says this may provide some HRC domestic price support as “[the anti-dumping duty] will restrict HRC imports from Vietnam”.
Source:Kallanish
