[SMM Stainless Steel Flash] India's JSL to Invest INR 900 Crore to Expand Cold Rolling Capacity by FY28

Outokumpu has inaugurated a biocoke agglomeration plant in Tornio, Finland, substituting fossil coke with biomass-based alternatives in ferrochrome manufacturing to support its low-carbon stainless steel production targets. The EUR 30 million facility processes biochar into biocoke, reducing direct CO2 emissions by up to 82,000 tonnes per year — equivalent to the carbon footprint of 8,000 Finnish residents. Head of Outokumpu EvoCarbon Juha Erkkilä confirmed that production has commenced for both internal use and external customers. The project advances Outokumpu's strategy to lower value chain CO2 emissions by 42% by 2030 versus 2016 levels, with the company's ferrochrome production already carrying a carbon footprint 67% below the global industry average.

Chinese Taiwan's anti-dumping investigation into Vietnamese cold-rolled stainless steel is tightening supplies for specific dimensions including 3-foot and 5-foot materials, with some processors facing order suspensions from steel mills. Vietnamese imports accounted for nearly 70% of total inbound volumes exceeding 34,000 tonnes through July. Following the petition filed by Yusco and Tang Eng Iron Works, a public hearing is scheduled for September 14. Growing import caution is expected to eliminate cheap Vietnamese alternatives, potentially reshaping market dynamics and lifting the inverted pricing trends that have weighed on painted stainless steel values.

Chinese Taiwan's anti-dumping investigation covers 50 tariff codes, primarily 304 and 316-series cold-rolled stainless steel with thickness of 0.05–6.10mm, excluding coated or clad products. A research firm commissioned by the applicants estimated Vietnamese products carried a dumping margin of approximately 31.36% in 2025, with CIF prices USD 80–100/ton below local market levels, with some offers falling below production costs. The investigation names 20 Vietnamese producers and exporters including Posco VST, Yongjin Metal Technology (Vietnam), Tan Viet Metal Technology, Nam Phat Group, and Hoa Sen Nhon Hoi. Procedurally, the Ministry of Economic Affairs must issue a preliminary injury determination within 40 days, while the Ministry of Finance has 70 days for a preliminary dumping finding. Should preliminary findings be affirmative, provisional duties and possible retroactive application may follow. If implemented, the measures are expected to potentially disrupt Vietnamese export flows to Chinese Taiwan and raise near-term procurement costs for end users.