{"id":2866894,"version":0,"headline":"Vietnam's scrap imports rise further in July","dateModified":"2026-08-19T10:03:09Z","datePublished":"2026-08-19T10:00:39Z","articleBody":"

Vietnamese mills continued to increase ferrous scrap imports in July, with imports reaching the second-highest level this year, supported by robust crude steel production and steady domestic demand.

Vietnam imported 612,000t of ferrous scrap in July, up by 1.3pc from June and 19pc from a year earlier, according to Vietnamese customs data. Total imports in January-July rose by 7pc year on the year to 3.8mn t. Vietnam imported 604,000t of ferrous scrap in June, up by 3.8pc from May and by 21pc from a year earlier.

The increase in scrap consumption was driven by continued expansion of steelmaking capacity in Vietnam. Crude steel production reached 17.92mn t in the first seven months of the year, up by 28pc year on year, according to the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA). The growth rate significantly outpaced the global steel industry's overall production trend, VSA said.

Japan remained Vietnam's largest scrap supplier, although shipments fell by 12pc month on month to 226,000t in July. Scrap prices in other seaborne markets dropped from elevated levels during May-July because of falling steel prices, but that of the Japanese market held steady. This prompted Japanese traders to prioritise sales of scrap in the domestic market and to scale back export activity given that Japanese domestic scrap prices did not follow the broader correction in global scrap markets.

To maintain sufficient scrap supplies for production, Vietnamese mills sourced more material from alternative origins. Imports from Singapore and Canada each reached 20,000t in July, while Cambodia supplied 14,000t.

US scrap imports surged by 84pc year on year to 144,000t in July, the highest monthly volume since April 2023. Vietnamese mills became active in deep-sea bulk scrap negotiations during April-May, when market participants held a more optimistic outlook for steel demand and Japanese and other short-sea scrap became less competitive.

Imports from Australia also continued to increase, more than doubling from a year earlier to 87,000t in July. Vietnamese mills also imported 31,000t of scrap from New Zealand during the month.

Vietnam's ferrous scrap deliveriest
Jul '26% ± vs June% ± vs Jul '25Jan-Jul% ± on year
Japan225,844-122.21,700,340-10.5
US143,74632.184.2466,35817.6
Australia87,21952.5122.2303,15032.3
Hong Kong21,798-57.2-28240,0921.2
Others133,8272.4-8.21,096,97638.2
Total612,4341.319.13,806,9167
Source: Vietnamese customs

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Vietnamese mills continued to increase ferrous scrap imports in July, with imports reaching the second-highest level this year, supported by robust crude steel production and steady domestic demand.

Vietnam imported 612,000t of ferrous scrap in July, up by 1.3pc from June and 19pc from a year earlier, according to Vietnamese customs data. Total imports in January-July rose by 7pc year on the year to 3.8mn t. Vietnam imported 604,000t of ferrous scrap in June, up by 3.8pc from May and by 21pc from a year earlier.

The increase in scrap consumption was driven by continued expansion of steelmaking capacity in Vietnam. Crude steel production reached 17.92mn t in the first seven months of the year, up by 28pc year on year, according to the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA). The growth rate significantly outpaced the global steel industry's overall production trend, VSA said.

Japan remained Vietnam's largest scrap supplier, although shipments fell by 12pc month on month to 226,000t in July. Scrap prices in other seaborne markets dropped from elevated levels during May-July because of falling steel prices, but that of the Japanese market held steady. This prompted Japanese traders to prioritise sales of scrap in the domestic market and to scale back export activity given that Japanese domestic scrap prices did not follow the broader correction in global scrap markets.

To maintain sufficient scrap supplies for production, Vietnamese mills sourced more material from alternative origins. Imports from Singapore and Canada each reached 20,000t in July, while Cambodia supplied 14,000t.

US scrap imports surged by 84pc year on year to 144,000t in July, the highest monthly volume since April 2023. Vietnamese mills became active in deep-sea bulk scrap negotiations during April-May, when market participants held a more optimistic outlook for steel demand and Japanese and other short-sea scrap became less competitive.

Imports from Australia also continued to increase, more than doubling from a year earlier to 87,000t in July. Vietnamese mills also imported 31,000t of scrap from New Zealand during the month.

Vietnam's ferrous scrap deliveriest
Jul '26% ± vs June% ± vs Jul '25Jan-Jul% ± on year
Japan225,844-122.21,700,340-10.5
US143,74632.184.2466,35817.6
Australia87,21952.5122.2303,15032.3
Hong Kong21,798-57.2-28240,0921.2
Others133,8272.4-8.21,096,97638.2
Total612,4341.319.13,806,9167
Source: Vietnamese customs
","lead":"Vietnamese mills continued to increase ferrous scrap imports in July, with imports reaching the second-highest level this year, supported by robust crude steel production and steady domestic demand.","cmsId":"25087309","source":"Censhare"}