Vietnam’s steel imports rose sharply to 1.24 million tons in March 2026, marking a 44.9% increase compared to February, according to customs data. Scrap imports also climbed to about 556,700 tons, up 28.5% year-on-year, reflecting improving raw material demand. 

Despite the monthly rebound, total steel imports for the first quarter reached 3.62 million tons, still down 2.9% year-on-year, while scrap imports grew 8% to 1.49 million tons. 

China remained the largest steel supplier in March, with a total of 533,000 tons, followed by Japan and India, with Indian shipments surging significantly. The data indicate a short-term recovery in import demand, although overall trends remain mixed in early 2026.