Thailand Tightens Steel Standards to Boost Quality and Safety
Thailand is implementing stricter steel standards requiring producers to source billets from specific furnace processes and add mandatory refining steps to boost quality and safety across the construction industry.
Thai Steel Profile says Thailand's steel industry is changing, backing new Thai Industrial Standards to control raw material sources and raise standards to international levels while reducing structural risks.
Wichit Rattanasirivilai, managing director of Thai Steel Profile Public Company Limited, a major domestic rebar producer, revealed that the new standards requiring steel from Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) processes, along with mandatory Secondary Refining steps, represent the right approach to upgrading Thailand's industry long-term.
"Rebar quality begins with billet quality. If raw materials are stable and chemical composition is consistently controlled, rolled steel will meet standards and reduce construction risks," Wichit said.
Most Thai rebar producers currently operate as rolling mills, importing steel billets from abroad and converting them to rebar for domestic and export sales. The Industrial Products Standards Office reports over 16 licensed rebar producers lack their own furnaces, and 2025 imports exceed 1.6 million tonnes of billets.
Business operators believe the new standards will reshape competitive dynamics by emphasizing raw material sourcing, reducing quality variations in the market and improving supply chain transparency.
Three key benefits are expected: first, upgrading production processes through clear technology and quality control criteria that create unified practices and enhance Thai steel industry credibility; second, building confidence among engineers, designers, contractors, and project owners that construction steel maintains consistent quality and reduces technical risks; and third, reducing business risk for rolling mills and material importers by establishing clear billet selection criteria, avoiding future disputes over standards and product quality.
While the new standards may increase producer costs for material inspection and selection, industry assessments indicate returns include improved structural safety, market confidence, and alignment with global standards—factors critical for long-term competitiveness.
Amid intensifying global competition and rising safety demands, this TIS revision is not merely a technical change but a new foundation for Thailand's steel industry to support sustainable construction and future investment growth.
