The move has come after the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) conducted a detailed investigation into pricing practices and their impact on Indian producers.

India’s five-year anti-dumping duty of $121.55 per tonne on hot-rolled flat steel imports from Vietnam is seen by industry observers as a move aimed at stopping cheap Chinese steel from flooding the domestic market.

Accordingly, the Indian industry as well as analysts alike have welcomed the move stating that Vietnamese steel often serves as a conduit for Chinese shipments.

The move has come after the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) conducted a detailed investigation into pricing practices and their impact on Indian producers.

Besides, the duty applies to hot-rolled flat steel, both alloy and non-alloy, with thicknesses up to 25 mm and widths up to 2,100 mm, excluding clad, plated, coated, and stainless steel products.

Notably, most Vietnamese exporters face the full levy, while Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel JSC has been exempted due to a low dumping margin.

India’s steel imports had reached 9.5 million tonne in FY25, with Chinese shipments accounting for 2.4 million tonnes in the first 11 months.

Early data (provisional) for FY 26 showed a notable decline, with finished steel imports down 27.6 per cent year-on-year and Chinese imports falling 47.7 per cent in April–May 2025.

Industry analysts cited the anti-dumping duty as a part of a wider trade-defense framework that includes safeguard tariffs and other investigations.

Meanwhile, the Centre’s stance on the matter is clear that the move is a step toward self-reliance in steel production under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.

However, experts cautioned that Vietnamese imports make up a relatively small share of overall steel imports.

Consequently, only a limited success in scuttling Chinese steel with the Vietnamese tag can be achieved by targeting this segment, they said.

In addition, trade watchers are keeping an eye on China’s response, as well as the domestic industry’s capacity to meet rising demand.

Source: The Hindu Business