South Korea Just Imposed 33.67% Tariff on Chinese Galvanized Steel – CNB Group Redirects Supply to Alternative Markets

Another major trade barrier has just fallen into place – and this one hits close to home for galvanized steel exporters.

On June 12, 2026, South Korea‘s Ministry of Economy and Finance officially imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on galvanized cold-rolled steel originating from China.The tariffs, effective from June 12 to October 11, 2026, range from 22.34% to 33.67%, depending on the exporter. The highest rate of 33.67% applies to Winstone Development Ltd., while other exporters face 25.75%.

The investigation covers flat-rolled carbon and alloy steel products with a thickness of less than 4.75mm, coated or plated with zinc, zinc-aluminum, or zinc-aluminum-manganese – including galvanized coils, PPGI, and galvalume products. Notably, the scope excludes electro-galvanized products and alloy-galvanized products produced through annealing.

This is not an isolated case. The global wave of trade protectionism against Chinese steel is accelerating at an unprecedented pace:

 launched an anti-dumping investigation on June 1, 2026, covering cold-rolled steel strips and plates from China, Taiwan (China), and South Korea.

 has already applied anti-dumping duties of up to 37.13% on Chinese coated steel and is now reviewing whether to extend them.

 recently imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on Chinese hot-rolled coil from Wugang.

 slashed its steel import duty-free quota by 60%.

 will implement a 47% quota cut and 50% over-quota tariff on July.

✅ Diversified market coverage – We serve clients across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America, not just Korea or Europe. As one trade channel tightens, others remain open.

✅ Ready stock for rapid redirection – Our expanded inventory of PPGI, GI, and GL coils allows us to quickly reroute shipments to alternative destinations.

✅ Real-time trade monitoring – We track all anti-dumping and safeguard developments daily and share timely updates with our clients, helping you make informed procurement decisions.

The Korea tariff is now in effect. If your orders were destined for Korea, you need to act fast – either expedite shipments before duties fully bite, or redirect to other markets where CNB Group maintains strong buyer relationships.

📩 Contact CNB Group today to discuss alternative markets, adjust your procurement schedule, or expedite shipments while the window is still open.