Indonesia's steel industry calls on government to restrict low-cost steel imports from China and Vietnam

Indonesia's construction steel industry is deeply concerned about the surge in steel imports from China and Vietnam.The Chairman of the Indonesian Steel Construction Association (ISSC) noted that.A large number of low-priced steel imports disrupt the market through unfair competition, depressing the capacity utilization rate of local steel mills and threatening the foundation of the national steel industry.

Data show that China's steel imports reached $2.39 billion (3.81 million tons) in January - August 2025, up from the same period last year, while Vietnam's steel imports amounted to $246 million (404,000 tons). Although Vietnam's imports decreased slightly, it is still an important supplier.

He emphasized that the root of the problem wasInadequate regulation and dumping in exporting countriesThe problem is that there is a lack of capacity in Indonesia, not in the country itself. If left unchecked, Indonesia could be turned into another country.dumping ground for excess capacityLoss ofInfrastructure ownershipThe

To this end ISSC has made five recommendations to the government:Temporary import bans have been imposed on the steel involved in specific tariff bands; anti-dumping and safeguard measures have been implemented in accordance with regulations. There is also a tightening of import licensing; prioritizing the procurement of domestically produced steel for strategic national projects; and preventing Indonesia from becoming a dumping ground for foreign steel.

ISSC recently organized hundreds of practitioners to Jakarta due to insufficient government responseDemonstration by the General Customs Administration of the Ministry of Finance, calling for restrictions on harmful steel imports and cracking down on the use of loopholes in the rules"Imported Mafia". The Association warns that withoutRapid and robust measuresIn addition, the Indonesian steel industry will lose its competitiveness and be reduced to a dumping market for cheap steel.