Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 13: India has slapped a five-year anti-dumping duty on hot-rolled flat products of alloy and non-alloy steel from Vietnam to shield domestic producers from cheap imports sold below normal prices.

The Department of Revenue’s notification, dated November 12, follows a DGTR investigation that confirmed Vietnamese exports were being sold at unfairly low prices, causing material injury to India’s steel industry.

The duty targets hot-rolled flat steel products up to 25 mm thick and 2,100 mm wide, excluding stainless steel, and amounts to $121.55 per metric tonne for Vietnamese producers as well as non-Vietnamese exporters using Vietnam as a transit point. Payment will be in Indian rupees at the exchange rate on the date of bill entry.

The notification warns of a risk of further injury to domestic producers if the anti-dumping duty is not implemented, emphasizing the need to ensure fair pricing and protect local manufacturers.

This move is part of broader efforts to safeguard India’s steel sector, which has faced pressure from low-priced imports from countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. Domestic producers have been forced to lower prices, reduce capacity utilization, and lose market share, according to a Reserve Bank of India report.

Earlier, in April 2025, the government imposed a 12% temporary safeguard duty on certain steel imports, reflecting a continued strategy under the ‘Make in India’ initiative to support self-reliance in the steel sector.

The anti-dumping duty will remain in effect for five years unless amended or revoked earlier, aiming to stabilize domestic steel production and curb unfair trade practices.