Local steel manufacturers backing product quality

South Korea’s Posco VST and 13 Vietnamese steelmakers recently opposed the Ministry of Science and Technology’s (MoST) decision to put some stainless steel products of series 200 (samples GD1 and GD2) into the national standard. They cited these products as being of low quality and harmful to human health.

Local steel manufacturers backing product quality, (Photo: VNA)

However, 32 other steel manufacturers have heard the conclusion of scientists after nearly a year of research on the quality and applicability of the series 200 of stainless steel which contains chrome, nickel, and manganese.

“We, who are Vietnam’s stainless steel manufacturers, were surprised and outraged when we saw Posco VST and 13 Vietnamese enterprises protesting the MoST’s decision to put these products into the national standard,” said a petition to the government from 32 stainless steel manufacturing and trading enterprises.

The 32 firms noted in the petition that no document exists to prove that the products are of low quality. The standards status process for the series 200 was carried out by the Institute of Standards under the MoST, following the scientific process.

The move from the MoST has been welcomed by stainless steel groups because it aims to end issues since Circular No.15/2019/TT-BKHCN promulgated national technical regulations on stainless steel. It came into effect in January 2020 and determined whether or not series 200 stainless steel products can be circulated.

This type of steel is mainly used to manufacture products such as tables, chairs, stair railings, household appliances, interior equipment furniture, and components and spare part of many industries. Compared to galvanised steel, it has acceptable anti-corrosion properties, is easy to work with, and offers good mechanical properties.

Businesses also reported that in addition to creating the aforementioned goods for local use, Vietnamese stainless steel producers have been exporting these goods to a variety of countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, China, India, Thailand, and even South Korea. In this context, businesses stand by the petition, noting that if these types of steel no longer existed in the Vietnamese market, consumers would have to use more expensive steel products.

“Vietnamese exporters will then remain outside the international playing field and the greater risk is that finished products and household products made with this steel will be imported into the Vietnamese market,” the petition wrote. “This will hurt the domestic mechanical production, causing many difficulties.”

Posco VST is in the process of importing raw materials, and preparing to produce new steel to replace the 200 series.

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