China’s steel exports declined in October as rising protectionist measures and slowing global demand weighed on overseas shipments. Exports fell 12.5pct YoY to 9.78 mln tons and were down 6.6pct from September, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.
Despite the monthly drop, China remains on track for a record export year, with shipments totaling 97.7 mln tons in the first ten months of 2025, up 6.6pct YoY.
On the import side, finished steel inflows reached 5 mln tons during January-October, down nearly 12pct from a year earlier. October imports were 503,000 tons, representing a 6.2pct annual decline.
China’s iron ore imports stayed above 100 mln tons for the fifth straight month in October, totaling 111.3 mln tons, 4.3pct lower month on month but 7.2pct higher than the same period last year. For the first ten months, iron ore imports edged up 0.7pct YoY to 1.02 bln tons.
