Based on the news from South East Asia Iron & Steel Institute (SEAISI), the consumption of finished steels of ASEAN countries in the first half of 2015 continued to grow, bringing limited benefit to steel enterprises in this area. In H1 of 2015, the total consumption of steel reached 35.12 Million Tons, 8.9% increased over the corresponding period in 2014. Due to the increasing volume of importing steel, the production of steel in ASEAN countries decreased.

In the first half of 2015, ASEAN countries imported totally 25.75 Million Tons of steel, 18.7% increased over the corresponding period in last year, among which the steel originated from China took half of the total import. In H1 of 2014, the steel originated from China took only 42% of the total import. According to the steel category, in the first half, the profile steel from China took 63% of the total import in ASEAN; steel bars and steel wire rods took respectively 88% and 81% of the total import; medium plates took 58%; and the coated plates 42%.

It was specially indicated by SEAISI that in the future, ASEAN countries would still confront with pouring-in of low-priced steel from China. In 2014, China exported near 24 Million Tons of steel to ASEAN countries, 50.3% increased over that of 2013. In the first three quarters of 2015, the export volume has reached 23.6 Million Tons, 48% increased over that of 2014. The strong growth of steel originated from China would continue to pour into the ASEAN market, which resulted in the trade protection measures that ASEAN countries would implement in their countries.