[SMM Vietnam Weekly Review] Vietnam Steel Market Diverges; HRC Faces Import Pressure While Rebar Holds Firm
Last week, Vietnam’s steel market showed a mixed trend, with construction steel prices remaining relatively firm while HRC continued to face pressure from weak demand and low-priced imports. HRC prices remained relatively soft as cautious buying and strong competition from imported material, particularly from China, limited domestic mills’ pricing power. By contrast, domestic construction steel prices remained stable at around US$594/t EXW, equivalent to VND 15,500/kg, supported by firm upstream costs and limited competition from imported rebar due to tighter technical requirements and trade-remedy measures, while some distributor restocking provided support to market sentiment. Overall, the market remained divided, with long steel showing greater price resilience while HRC continued to face pressure from cautious demand and import competition.