South Korean steelmakers are investing heavily in US production facilities to bypass tariffs and quotas anticipated under the Trump administration.

SeAH Group's US subsidiary, SeAH Superalloy Technologies, raised 183.7 billion won for facility funding, aiming to establish local production for high-value-added special products.

The company, founded last year for 149 billion won, plans to produce 6,000 tons of products yearly in Texas by next year, targeting the growing US-centered special alloy market, with a market size projected to expand from US$6.8 billion in 2021 to US$15 billion by 2031.

In addition, Hyundai Steel is planning a 10 trillion won US steel mill to supply automotive steel for Hyundai Motor and Kia factories in the US, with construction starting as early as the first half of this year and operations by 2029.

Also, POSCO has disclosed its plan for investments in North America and other regions to enhance corporate value.

These moves respond to US import quotas limiting South Korean steel exports to 2.63 million tons annually and potential universal tariffs of 10-20% on imports.