China’s steel exports rose 6.3pct YoY in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 27.42 mln tons, according to data from the General Administration of Customs. In March alone, exports grew 5.76pct YoY to 10.46 mln tons, marking a sharp 30pct increase compared to February.
Despite the strong export performance, the outlook for China’s steel sector remains bearish due to growing protectionist policies from major importing countries and escalating trade tensions with the United States.
On the import side, China’s finished steel imports dropped 11.3pct YoY in the first quarter to 1.55 mln tons. In March, imports fell over 19pct YoY to 501,000 tons and declined by nearly 9pct compared to the previous month.
Iron ore imports also declined, down 7.8pct YoY in Q1 2025 to 285.3 mln tons. March imports stood at 93.97 mln tons, down 6.7pct from a year earlier and slightly lower by 0.25pct compared to February.