Malaysia Imposes Duties on Iron, Steel Imports from China, India, Japan, S. Korea
Malaysia has implemented provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of flat-rolled iron products and non-alloy steel from China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Effective January 11, these duties range from 2.52% to 36.80% and apply to products exceeding 600 mm in width. The measures are set for an initial period of up to 120 days, pending a final determination by May 10.
This decision follows an investigation initiated in August after a domestic producer alleged that these imports were being sold at prices significantly lower than in their home countries, causing material injury to Malaysia’s iron and steel industry. The Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) conducted the inquiry, which led to the imposition of these provisional duties to safeguard local manufacturers.
Stakeholders have been invited to provide feedback on the preliminary determination by January 20, allowing for a comprehensive review before a final decision is made. The Malaysian government emphasizes its commitment to ensuring fair trade practices and protecting domestic industries from unfair pricing strategies employed by foreign exporters.
In a related context, India’s finished steel exports to Malaysia are relatively minimal, with approximately 36,000 metric tons exported in the 2023/24 period—a 78% decrease since 2019/20. Consequently, the impact of Malaysia’s anti-dumping duties on India’s overall steel exports is expected to be limited.
These measures reflect Malaysia’s proactive stance in addressing trade imbalances and supporting its domestic iron and steel sector against the challenges posed by underpriced imports from major exporting nations.
