Vietnam’s steel industry posted double-digit growth in both production and sales in the first half of 2026, with hot-rolled coil (HRC) emerging as the main growth driver.
According to data from the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA), the country produced 15.18 million tons of crude steel in the first six months of 2026, up 26.9% year-on-year.
Domestic and export sales of crude steel reached 14.81 million tons during the period, an increase of 25.5% compared with the same period last year. Of this, crude steel exports amounted to 1.696 million tons, up 5.3%.
For finished steel products, production reached 18.21 million tons in the first half of the year, up 15.1%, while sales totaled 17.95 million tons, an increase of 14.2% year-on-year. The VSA reported growth across most product categories, with the exception of coated steel and cold-rolled steel, both of which recorded declines in production and sales.
By product category, HRC was the standout performer in the first half of the year. HRC production reached 5.397 million tons, up 41.9%, while sales rose 36.8% to 5.338 million tons. HRC exports also surged 62.2% year-on-year to 758,000 tons.
Construction steel also maintained positive growth, with production reaching 7.69 million tons, up 19.3%, while sales rose 15.1% to 7.64 million tons.
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