Importing Steel from China to Malaysia: ACFTA 0% Duty, SST & Anti-Dumping (2026)
Verified 2026-10-30 against official Malaysian and WTO sources. With an ACFTA Form E, most Chinese steel enters Malaysia at 0% duty; without it MFN rates run 0–15%+ depending on the line (HRC 7208.51 is 15%). Malaysia replaced GST with a sales tax (SST) of 5–10% on many imported goods — building materials such as rebar are generally 0%. The catch: Malaysia runs one of Southeast Asia's busiest anti-docking dockets against Chinese flat steel — CRC, tinplate, galvanized and (under review) prepainted and galvalume.
Import duty on steel
| HS heading | Product group | Import duty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7208 | Hot-rolled flat, non-alloy (HRC) | ACFTA 0% / MFN 15% | HRC 7208.51 at 15% MFN is one of the highest base rates in ASEAN — Form E matters. |
| 7209 | Cold-rolled flat >1,300 mm (CRC) | ACFTA 0% / MFN up to 15% | AD in force to 2030: named mills 4.82–8.74%, all other Chinese exporters 26.38%. |
| 7210 | Metallic-coated (galvanised, al-zinc) | ACFTA 0% / MFN 5–15% | Hot-dip galvanized: AD 5.60–26.80% (Nov 2025–Oct 2030); galvalume under investigation since Jul 2026; prepainted under expiry review. |
| 7210 (tinplate) | Electrolytic tinplate | ACFTA 0% / MFN 5–15% | AD 4.48–20.42% on Chinese tinplate, 11 May 2025 – 10 May 2030. |
| 7225 | Alloy flat: wear plate, high-strength plate | ACFTA 0% / MFN 0–5% | No AD on 7225 alloy plate — Malaysia is one of the clearest lanes for Chinese wear plate. |
| 7213 / 7301 | Rebar, H-beams, sections | ACFTA 0% / MFN 0–15% | H-beam AD 2.09–21.72% (from Dec 2021, expiry ~Dec 2026 — renewal likely); rebar generally SST-exempt as a building material. |
Anti-dumping & trade-remedy measures in force
MITI administers one of Asia's densest steel AD dockets. Measures in force against Chinese product as of 2026-10-30:
- Cold-rolled coil >1,300 mm — renewed June 2025 for five years (to 22 June 2030): Angang, Maanshan and Shougang Jingtang at 4.82–8.74%; all other Chinese exporters 26.38%. Korean and Vietnamese exporters were removed.
- Electrolytic tinplate — 4.48–20.42% (11 May 2025 – 10 May 2030).
- Hot-dip galvanized — 5.60–26.80% (1 Nov 2025 – 31 Oct 2030): Shougang Jingtang 7.72%, all others 26.80%, individually-exempt producers 0%.
- H-beams — 2.09–21.72% since December 2021, expiry around December 2026; renewal likely.
- Live reviews — galvalume (al-zinc coated) AD investigation opened 17 July 2026; prepainted steel expiry review running since August 2026.
ACFTA Form E removes the import duty only; AD applies by HS code and named exporter. For 7225 alloy plate there is no measure — the lane is open.
How the duties stack up — landed-cost cascade
Worked example — US$700/t wear plate (7225) with Form E: import duty US$0; SST on steel is generally nil for basic building materials and not applied to most 7225 lines → landed tax ≈ 0–5% + SST if the line is scheduled. Compare Chinese CRC from an unnamed mill: 0% duty → AD 26.38% → SST 5–10% if scheduled. This is why Malaysian buyers of Chinese wear plate ask for Form E and mill certificates in the same email.
Documents & certificates you need
- Form E certificate of origin (ACFTA) — without it HRC pays 15% MFN.
- Customs declaration (K1 form) filed in eSTIMM/eDagang by your Malaysian importer.
- MITI import licence / AP for steel lines under import licensing (check the current list).
- Mill test certificate per heat; SIRIM certification where standards apply.
- Wood packaging ISPM 15.
Official sources for this page
- Royal Malaysian Customs Department — MyCC tariff & eSTIMM procedures
- MITI Trade Remedies — AD determinations & reviews
- Ministry of Finance (SST orders) — sales tax scope & exemptions
- WTO Tariff Download Facility — applied MFN rates
Every figure above was re-checked against these portals on 2026-10-30. AD rates are exporter-specific — confirm your mill against MITI's Customs (Anti-Dumping Duties) Orders before quoting.
Change log — what moved, and when
| Date | Change (source: MITI / Government Gazette (P.U.(A))) |
|---|---|
| 2026-08 | MITI initiated an AD investigation into al-zinc coated steel (galvalume) from China, Taiwan and Vietnam; expiry review opened on prepainted steel from China and Vietnam. |
| 2025-11-01 | Definitive AD on hot-dip galvanized from China (5.60–26.80%), South Korea and Vietnam for five years (to 31 Oct 2030). |
| 2025-05-11 | Definitive AD on electrolytic tinplate from China at 4.48–20.42% for five years (to 10 May 2030). |
| 2025-06-23 | CRC (>1,300 mm) AD renewed for five years (to 22 June 2030): named Chinese mills 4.82–8.74%, all other Chinese exporters 26.38%; Korean and Vietnamese exporters removed. |
Malaysia steel import FAQ
Does Malaysia charge GST or VAT on steel?
Neither — GST was scrapped in 2018. Today a sales tax (SST) of 5–10% applies to scheduled imported goods; basic construction materials including rebar are generally exempt. Many flat-steel lines pay no SST at all — but the schedule changes, so we confirm per line.
Is wear plate affected by Malaysian anti-dumping?
No. Malaysian AD targets CRC, tinplate, galvanized, H-beams and (under review) prepainted/galvalume — not 7225 alloy plate. Combined with ACFTA 0% duty, Malaysia is one of the most open lanes in ASEAN for Chinese wear plate and high-strength plate.
An unnamed Chinese mill quoted us CRC — what AD applies?
The residual rate: 26.38% for CRC >1,300 mm. Mills that cooperated with MITI's investigation (Angang, Maanshan, Shougang Jingtang) hold 4.82–8.74% individual rates. Exporter identity changes the landed cost by ~20 percentage points — ask who made the steel, not just who sells it.
How current is this page?
Verified 2026-10-30. The galvalume investigation and prepainted expiry review are live; H-beam measures expire around December 2026. We re-check MITI orders before each contract.
Sources & verification
- 1Royal Malaysian Customs Department
- 2MITI Trade Remedies
- 3Ministry of Finance (SST orders)
- 4WTO Tariff Download Facility
Figures on this page were verified on 2026-10-30 against the official sources below. Data is reviewed and re-verified monthly; dates of each review are shown on this page.
