ASEAN to establish steel council to strengthen construction standards

The initiative aims to strengthen steel quality control and protect against earthquake risks

ASEAN policymakers have expressed concern about the need to strengthen standards for steel used in the construction of high-rise buildings in the region. According to Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, Liu Chin Tong, representatives of the states agreed to recommend that their governments consider establishing an ASEAN Steel Council.

He said the new structure would bring together government officials responsible for the steel industry in a more systematic dialogue. The initiative was prompted by earthquakes in Thailand and Myanmar, as well as growing seismic risks in the region. Liu recalled that even on the Malacca Peninsula, possible underground tremors must be taken into account after the recent incident in the city of Segamat.

The official stressed that industry associations in Southeast Asian countries currently interact within the framework of the Southeast Asian Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI), but governments rarely discuss steel issues among themselves. Trade negotiations usually remain the focus of regional cooperation, while industrial development is considered an internal matter. This leads to competition between neighbouring countries for foreign investment.

Liu also spoke at the first SEAISI meeting, which brought together government representatives from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Myanmar. The meeting discussed issues of production capacity management, decarbonisation, unfair trade practices, and prospects for technology exchange and human resources development.

As a reminder, countries in the Asia-Pacific region reduced steel production by 1.5% in January-August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, to 912.4 million tons. Overall, global steel production fell by 1.7% year-on-year to 1.23 billion tons during this period.р./р., до 1,23 млрд т.