Vietnam’s Hoa Phat Group is considering adding stainless steel capacity to its Dung Quat steelworks project, local media reports. The group is in discussions with Italy's Danieli to develop Vietnam’s first stainless steel capacity, Kallanish notes.

A 600,000 tonnes/year stainless steel meltshop could be commissioned in 2020, and capacity could be increased to 1 million tonnes/year, according to Viet Nam News. The plant would be the first of its kind in Vietnam and would aim to replace imports. In 2017, Vietnam imported some 560,000 tonnes of stainless steel products, up 10% year-on-year, according to preliminary data.

The 4m t/y Dung Quat integrated steelworks is due to start production in early 2019. It would be only Vietnam’s second major blast furnace-based flat steel producer.