Finished steel products (such as fabricated steel, sections, and pipes) are directly linked to the global infrastructure, construction, and automobile markets, and their prices and trade regulations are more volatile than those of raw steel. Korea exports approximately USD 9.9 billion annually in this sector. The World Trade Institute (WTI)
explains: Knowing this information can help you strengthen your fabricated steel export strategy by early identifying global infrastructure investment trends and protectionist risks.
HS 73, a category of processed and steel-related products, contains many finished steel products and is a high value-added area where Korean companies can secure trade competitiveness.
division | HS code examples | Representative items | Strategy Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| steel beams | HS 73.01–73.05 | I-beam, H-beam, channel steel | Directly linked to construction and infrastructure demand |
| steel pipes | HS 73.04–73.06 | Pipes, tubes, and boiler pipes | Opportunities to enter the energy and plant markets exist. |
| Steel structures and other | HS 73.15–73.17 | Steel structures and steel building panels | Possibility of linking with overseas construction project orders |
You can optimize your product portfolio and marketing by identifying specialized demand and export markets for each product.
South Korea's steel-related product exports are concentrated in major markets such as the United States, China, and Japan. World Trade Institute
Country/Region | Strong items | Market characteristics | Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Steel beams and pipes | Infrastructure reinvestment and protectionist risks exist. | The need to strengthen high-quality, standard-compliant, and local service capabilities. |
| china | Steel beams and pipes | Increased in-house production and intensified competition | Securing a strategy for technological differentiation beyond price competitiveness is essential. |
| japan | Steel beams and structural steel materials | A market with high demand for high-quality and special steel | Emphasize the technological and quality advantages of Korean products |
By understanding the market environment of each export target country, you can design entry strategies, risk response, and pricing strategies in advance.
Fabricated steel products are traded in tonnes, and the exportable volume is determined by factors such as production capacity, processing rates, demand, and logistics risks .
item | Number/estimate | unit | note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual exports (2024) | About USD 9.9 billion | USD | Korean export data based on HS73 |
| Domestic production capacity | About 8 to 10 million tons | ton | Considering parallel production for domestic and export markets |
| Exportable volume ratio | About 40 to 50% | % | Considering domestic demand, processing time, and logistics conditions |
It can be used to determine export capacity and design mass orders and production.
For processed steel products, international standards are important in terms of structural safety, corrosion resistance, durability, and dimensional accuracy.
field | Main specifications | note |
|---|---|---|
| steel beams | EN 10025, ASTM A36 | International Standards for Structural Steel for Construction |
| steel pipes | API 5L, ASTM A53 | Steel pipe specifications for plants/pipelines |
| steel structures | ISO 9001 + ISO 14001 | Requirements for the structure's own quality management and environmental management system |
You can reduce quality claims and recall risks when signing export contracts, and save certification costs and time.
When entering the export market, product certification, pre-order, and quality assurance factors affect the penalty for winning orders.
division | Certification name | Applicable area |
|---|---|---|
| Quality and Environment | ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 | Global |
| Corrosion/anti-corrosion treatment | EN 1090-1 / ASTM A123 | European and American structural markets |
| Welding and structural steel certification | AWS D1.1 / ISO 3834 | Shipbuilding, Plant, and Structure Market |
Obtaining certification can enhance your export competitiveness and expand your chances of winning orders.
Processed steel products are characterized by heavy, large cargo, and project-type orders, so logistics costs, delivery time, and packaging are competitive factors.
Product group | means of transportation | Average lead time | Key Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| steel beams | Bulk carriers, flat racks, and containers | 20 to 40 days | Shipping delays, port congestion, and exchange rates |
| steel pipes | Bulk carrier + barge inland transportation | 25 to 45 days | Increased handling costs and disruption of logistics flow |
| steel structures | Project Train, Sea, and Inland Multimodal Transport | 30 to 60 days | Delays in installation, increased installation costs, and logistics management |
Optimize your FOB/CIF contract strategy, inventory, and shipping plans by considering logistics conditions.
Fabricated steel products are typically contracted in bulk quantities, and MOQ information is important for export contracts and cost structure design.
Product group | MOQ | unit | characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|
| steel beams | About 500 tons or more | ton | Large-scale order-based structures require production and logistics planning. |
| steel pipes | About 300 tons or more | ton | Considering contract design and production line conversion |
| steel structures | 1 set or construction unit | set | Custom design, long lead time, high value-added order type |
Defining your MOQ in advance allows you to efficiently design contract terms, packaging, and production plans.
We provide a basis for strategic decision-making by integrating unit price, seasonality, tariffs, environmental regulations, and risk indices.
cord | item | example | conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| (A) | Unit price/transaction price range | Average price range: USD 780 - 950/ton | Profitability Analysis and Pricing Strategy Design |
| (B) | Seasonal demand patterns | Infrastructure investment is expected to peak in Q2-Q3. | Adjust production, inventory, and logistics timing |
| (C) | Tariff and non-tariff risks | Reuters Investigating Malaysia's Anti-Dumping Duty | Market Diversification and Risk Hedging Strategy |
| (D) | Domestic alternative industry data | Analysis of domestic demand and export potential | Determination of spare production capacity and price competitiveness |
| (E) | ESG·Net Zero Correlation | Increasing demand for low-carbon steel | Opportunity to secure high value-added and eco-friendly premium products |
| (F) | Country-specific risk index | US/EU risk estimated at 0.22 | Market selection and export portfolio design |
| (G) | List of major buyers | ASEAN and Indian construction companies, Middle Eastern oilfield plant companies | Precision design of sales and marketing targets |
Quantitative indicators can be used to strengthen export market selection, pricing strategies, and internal corporate decision-making.
We forecast export trends for the next three months, reflecting recent increases in protectionism, rising energy and raw material costs, and slowing global infrastructure investment.
segment | ΔExport(%) | ΔPrice(%) | ΔCountryShare(pp) | TrustIndex(0–1) | 3M Forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| steel beams | +1.5% | +0.8% | +0.2 pp | 0.74 | Maintaining demand for construction and infrastructure |
| steel pipes | +0.6% | +0.3% | 0.0 pp | 0.70 | Moderate growth amid slowing plant investment |
| steel structures | +2.4% | +1.2% | +0.3 pp | 0.79 | Overseas construction and plant orders are on the rise. |
You can design contract timing, production adjustments, and logistics plans in advance based on forecast indicators.
