Vietnamese steel producers have had to cut production since the beginning of 2007 as domestic steel cannot compete with cheap Chinese imports.
According to the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) some 190,000 metric tons of steel were imported to Vietnam from the beginning of the year to April 15.
Statistics show that national steel output has been dramatically decreasing. In April, local steel mills produced 248,970 metric tons, a decrease of seven percent over March and of nine percent compared to the same period last year.