Chinese steelmakers continue to ship record volumes abroad, with strong demand from the Middle East and Southeast Asia offsetting growing protectionism elsewhere, Bloomberg reported.
Saudi Arabia has emerged as the standout destination in 2025, with imports of Chinese steel rising 41pct YoY to 4.8 mln tons in the first nine months, the largest increase among major markets, according to Bloomberg data. The UAE followed with 4.3 mln tons, up just over 11pct, while Turkey imported 3.8 mln tons, up 8.4pct. These three nations ranked as China’s sixth, seventh, and eighth largest steel export destinations this year.
Despite rising tariffs and anti-dumping measures, China’s steel exports totaled 97.76 mln tons in January-October, already surpassing last year’s 92.05 mln tons and positioning 2025 for a record-breaking year.
While exports to Vietnam and South Korea declined amid import curbs, shipments to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand rose, and the Middle East has become a key growth region. Analysts attribute this to China’s Belt and Road investments, with roughly USD 86 bln directed to Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the past decade, much of it into steel-intensive energy and infrastructure projects.
However, with global trade frictions intensifying and domestic demand still weak, the sustainability of China’s export boom will hinge on continued demand from the Middle East and steady economic growth in Southeast Asia.
