- Imports from China plunge 88%, from Taiwan down 64%
- South Korea, Vietnam emerge as largest suppliers in Jun’26
Japan’s stainless steel market witnessed contrasting trends in June 2026, with nickel-based cold-rolled stainless steel imports declining sharply amid anti-dumping (AD) measures, while domestic stainless steel welded pipe sales continued to recover gradually on stable industrial demand.
Nickel-based stainless steel imports decline
According to Japan’s Ministry of Finance, imports of nickel-based stainless steel cold-rolled products fell 20.3% y-o-y to 13,194 t in June 2026 as importers shifted procurement away from China and Taiwan following Japan’s provisional anti-dumping duties.
Imports from China plunged 88% y-o-y to 1,084 t, while shipments from Taiwan declined 64% to 1,241 t. In contrast, imports from South Korea increased 57% to 5,685 t, while shipments from other countries surged more than sevenfold to 5,184 t.
Vietnam emerges as key supplier
Vietnam continued to strengthen its position in the Japanese market, with imports reaching a record 2,178 t for the second consecutive month. The country overtook both China and Taiwan to become Japan’s second-largest supplier of nickel-based stainless steel cold-rolled products after South Korea, reflecting buyers’ efforts to diversify sourcing amid ongoing trade restrictions.
Meanwhile, Japan’s total cold-rolled stainless steel imports, including chromium-based grades, stood at 17,147 t, down 14.2% y-o-y. However, chromium-based imports increased 15.7% to 3,953 t, supported by a 50.7% rise in shipments from China to 2,440 t, marking a record high.
AD investigation reshapes import flows
Japan launched its anti-dumping investigation into nickel-based stainless steel cold-rolled products from China and Taiwan in July 2025. Following a preliminary determination in June 2026, the government imposed provisional AD duties ranging from 3.6% to 42.1%, effective from 9 July to 8 November 2026.
The investigation has accelerated the shift in procurement towards alternative suppliers such as Vietnam, although market participants continue to monitor the final ruling, particularly as several Taiwanese producers are subject to the relatively lower provisional duty of 3.6%.
Outlook
Japan’s stainless steel import pattern is expected to remain influenced by the ongoing anti-dumping investigation. While Vietnam and South Korea are likely to continue benefiting from supply diversification, market participants will closely monitor Japan’s final AD ruling, particularly as the relatively low provisional duty of 3.6% on several Taiwanese producers could allow imports from Taiwan to recover depending on the final decision.
Note: This article is published as part of a content exchange agreement between SteelDaily and BigMint.
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