Chinese exports of steel billets to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strengthened markedly in 2025, with the region accounting for a growing share of China’s total billet exports, customs data showed.
Based on exports under HS 7207.1100 and HS 7207.2000, China’s total global billet exports reached around 13 mln tons in 2025. Of this volume, shipments to GCC countries amounted to nearly 1 mln tons, highlighting the region’s rising importance in Chinese semi-finished steel trade.
Saudi Arabia emerged as the dominant GCC destination for Chinese billet exports in 2025. Shipments to the Kingdom totalled around 833,400 tons, accounting for approximately 6.4pct of China’s total billet exports globally and more than 80pct of China’s billet flows into the GCC. Strong demand from rerollers and project-linked steel consumption underpinned buying interest during the year.
Exports to the United Arab Emirates stood at around 109,000 tons, representing about 0.8pct of China’s total billet exports. The UAE continued to source billets on a more opportunistic basis, with buying activity largely linked to price competitiveness versus alternative supply origins.
China also shipped around 50,000 tons of billet to Oman in 2025, giving Oman a roughly 0.4pct share of China’s global billet exports.
Taken together, GCC countries accounted for around 7.6pct of China’s total billet exports in 2025. Market participants noted that Chinese billet remained a key swing supply option for GCC buyers, with trade flows sensitive to price spreads, freight conditions and regional project demand.
Chinese billet exports to the GCC
| Destination | 2024 (tonnes) | 2025 (tonnes) | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 405,000 | 833,400 | +106% |
| United Arab Emirates | 98,200 | 109,000 | +11% |
| Oman | – | 50,000 | – |
| Qatar | 48,100 | – | – |
| GCC total | 551,300 | 992,700 | +80% |
