China exported 87.95 mln tons of steel in the first nine months of 2025, a 9.2pct increase from 80.55 mln tons a year earlier, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.
In September 2025, steel exports reached 10.46 mln tons, up 3pct YoY and 10pct from August.
On the import side, finished steel shipments into China totaled 4.53 mln tons over January, September, down 12.6pct from the same period last year. September imports stood at 548,000 tons, a 1pct annual decline.
Iron ore imports remained above 100 mln tons for the fourth consecutive month in September, rising 10.6pct from August to 116.27 mln tons. The figure was also 11.7pct higher than the 104.13 mln tons imported in September 2024. For the first nine months of 2025, however, total iron ore imports edged down 0.1pct YoY to 917.68 mln tons.
