【Galvanized Steel Market】According to SMM, entering August, environmental-related production restrictions have continued to affect operations in some regions. In addition, most galvanized steel producers reported further weakening order books for August. As a result, domestic galvanized steel operating rates are expected to decline further this month.

【Galvanized Steel Market】According to SMM, persistent hot and rainy weather continued to weigh on outdoor construction activities across China, resulting in weak domestic galvanized steel orders throughout July. Meanwhile, anti-dumping measures and ongoing geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran continued to affect export orders, keeping domestic galvanized steel operating rates at relatively low levels during the month.

Previously, Japan has the duties that charge around 29%. But now, with the updated duties, the charge becomes 55.3% on hot-dip galvanized steel coil and strip from China & South Korea. This was announced by Japan’s trade and finance ministries to prevent domestic market. This action was triggered by Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, and Yodoko.

The negative China-related measures taken by the US Federal Communications Commission and the US Department of Homeland Security seriously violate the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and seriously undermine China’s legitimate rights and interests. On August 5, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce stated that China has no choice but to respond with necessary countermeasures, including: strengthening export controls on drones and their key parts and technologies to the US, and suspending the China Compulsory Certification

Japan's trade and finance ministries announced provisional anti-dumping duties of 29.2%-55.3% on hot-dipped galvanised steel coil, sheet and strip imports from China and South Korea, following a year-long probe triggered by a petition from Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, and Yodoko who alleged cheap imports forced price cuts; the corrosion-resistant products are used in construction materials like guardrails, houses, fences, and appliance components, with Hong Kong and Macau imports excluded, the move adds to a string of recent Japanese trade defense actions against Asian steel and materials, including prior anti-dumping duties on nickel-based stainless cold-rolled steel and graphite electrodes from China and Taiwan.

As of July 28, LME zinc inventories (including off-warrant stocks) had fallen to 119,600 mt, down by approximately 45,000 mt from mid-June. As overseas inventories continued to decline, the LME zinc market structure shifted from contango to backwardation, with the backwardation widening further. By July 28, the LME zinc cash-to-3M spread had strengthened to US$61.09/mt.

Japanese government made the anti-dumping duties for China and South Korea’s hot-dip galvanized steel because both of them are sold below the prize of domestic steel industry. The preliminary anti-dumping have been set around 63.95-68.97% for Chinese imports & 32.49-42.69% for South Korean imports.

Swedish green steel start-up Stegra has secured a long-term tolling partnership with the Dutch branch of Wuppermann to galvanize its low-carbon steel products. Wuppermann Staal Nederland will process the sustainable steel utilizing its local galvanizing plant, which currently holds the lowest carbon footprint for such facilities in Europe. This strategic European partnership aims to establish new supply chain standards and accelerate the market adoption of low-carbon flat steel products across the region.

On July 24, 2026, Japan's Ministry of Finance officially announced a preliminary decision to impose anti-dumping duties on galvanized steel products imported from South Korea and China. The regulatory action follows an investigation revealing that imported galvanized steel strips and plates were being sold below market value, causing substantial harm to the domestic steel industry. These protective tariffs aim to ensure fair market competition and are expected to significantly alter regional supply chains.

According to Tata Steel, UK sites become unsustainable after the new tariff quotas applied for raising the amount of some types of steel that could be imported. Actually, the tariff quotas will minimize the steel from India, China, etc. However, because of the new tariff quotas, the Vietnam galvanized steel’s quotas are tripled. Tata spokeperson already tell that UK can be unsustainable due to the quotas that can flooding UK field.