Chinese exports of steel billets to GCC countries increased during the first four months of 2026, supported by stronger demand from regional buyers, customs data showed.
Based on exports under HS Codes 72071100 and 72072000, Chinese billet shipments to GCC countries reached approximately 533,900 tons in January-April 2026, up 23.8pct from around 431,200 tons during the corresponding period of 2025.
Saudi Arabia remained the largest destination for Chinese billet exports within the GCC, importing around 362,800 tons in January-April 2026. However, shipments to the Kingdom declined by 9.8pct YoY from approximately 402,000 tons during the same period of 2025.
Exports to the United Arab Emirates surged to approximately 164,900 tons, compared with around 29,100 tons a year earlier. China also shipped around 6,200 tons of billets to Oman, while no significant volumes were recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.
Despite lower Saudi Arabian imports, the Kingdom remained the dominant market for Chinese billets in the GCC, accounting for nearly 68pct of total regional imports during January-April 2026. The UAE accounted for almost 31pct of total Chinese billet shipments to the region.
Last year, GCC billet imports from China totalled approximately 993,000 tons, with Saudi Arabia accounting for more than 80pct of regional imports.
| Destination | Jan-Apr 2025 (tons) | Jan-Apr 2026 (tons) | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 402,048 | 362,776 | -9.8pct |
| UAE | 29,128 | 164,906 | +466.1pct |
| Oman | 0 | 6,186 | – |
| GCC Total | 431,175 | 533,868 | +23.8pct |
Source: Chinese Customs