China’s steel exports rose 6.7pct YoY in the first two months of 2025, reaching 16.97 mln tons, according to the General Administration of Customs.
Despite strong export figures, the outlook for Chinese steel remains bearish due to increasing protectionist measures from major importing countries. In 2024, China’s steel exports reached a nine-year high of 110.7 mln tons, up 22.7pct from 2023, the highest level since 2015 when exports peaked at 112 mln tons.
Meanwhile, China’s finished steel imports fell 7.2pct YoY in the first two months of the year to 1.05 mln tons.
Iron ore imports also declined by 8.4pct to 191.36 mln tons over the same period, largely due to weather-related supply disruptions in Australia.
