On April 30, 2026, the Anti-Dumping Commission under the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources officially initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of zinc coated/galvanised steel from Viet Nam and South Korea.

In this case, the Australian authority is investigating two Vietnamese companies, namely Hoa Sen Group and Nam Kim Steel Joint Stock Company, together with two South Korean enterprises. The investigation was launched following a complaint filed by BlueScope Steel, alleging that the exporters sold the products in the Australian market at prices lower than their normal value, thereby causing material injury to Australia’s domestic steel industry.

According to the notice of initiation, the anti-dumping investigation period covers from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. The Australian investigating authority is expected to complete the investigation process and submit its report to the competent Minister on October 2, 2026.

The products under investigation fall under various tariff classifications, including 7210.49.00, 7212.30.00, 7225.92.00, and 7226.99.00. Notably, according to Australia’s preliminary data, the alleged dumping margin for Vietnamese exporters reaches up to 56.21% — an exceptionally high level that could significantly impact Viet Nam’s steel exports if the final determination is unfavorable.

With the alleged dumping margin at such a high level, the relevant Vietnamese enterprises are facing the risk of substantial anti-dumping duties, which could weaken their competitiveness in the Australian market. As Australia remains one of the relatively stable steel import markets in the region, the imposition of high duties may not only directly affect export revenues but also result in a loss of market share to competitors from other countries.

Beyond the direct impact on the companies named in the investigation, this proceeding may also place pressure on Viet Nam’s steel industry as a whole, particularly on enterprises currently exporting or planning to expand exports of galvanised steel products to Australia. In practice, many foreign importers tend to become more cautious when dealing with companies from countries subject to trade remedy investigations, even before any final conclusion is issued.

Another notable risk is that if companies fail to fully cooperate or do not submit data within the prescribed deadlines, the Australian investigating authority may rely on “adverse facts available” to calculate dumping margins. This often results in very high duty rates and creates significant disadvantages for enterprises throughout the investigation process.

Under Australian regulations, relevant exporters and importers are required to complete and submit responses to the investigation questionnaire before June 8, 2026. This stage is considered particularly important because the quality and completeness of the submitted information will directly affect the calculation of dumping margins as well as the possibility for each enterprise to obtain an individual duty rate.

As trade remedy measures are increasingly being used by countries worldwide to protect domestic industries, Vietnamese steel enterprises should promptly review export data, prepare comprehensive accounting and sales records, and develop appropriate response strategies. At the same time, proactive coordination with legal counsel, industry associations, and competent authorities will play an important role in minimizing the risk of high anti-dumping duties and safeguarding export activities in the Australian market in the coming period.

To protect their legitimate interests, manufacturers and exporters should familiarize themselves with the procedure and actively contact Viet Nam Antidumping Law Firm specializing in anti-dumping and trade remedy for timely assistance.

Source: ASLGate