China’s finished steel exports declined 8.1pct YoY to 15.59 mln tons in January-February, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs.
The drop is partly attributed to the new export licensing system introduced in January 2026, aimed at slowing steel shipments abroad amid rising protectionist measures in several global markets.
China typically combines trade data for January and February, as the week-long Lunar New Year holiday can fall in either month, affecting monthly comparisons.
Meanwhile, the country’s iron ore imports rose 10pct YoY during the first two months of 2026. China imported 210.02 mln tons of iron ore in January-February, compared with 191.36 mln tons in the same period last year.
