Posted on 12 May 2025
China's finished steel exports maintained year-on-year growth during the first four months of 2025, with total volume reaching 37.89 million tonnes, up 8.2% from the same period last year, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs (GACC) on May 9.
The growth rate marked an acceleration from the 6.3% year-on-year increase recorded for the first quarter, largely driven by robust export volumes in April, Mysteel Global noted.
For April alone, China exported 10.46 million tonnes of finished steel, edging up by 6,000 tonnes from March and registering a 13.4% rise compared with the same month last year, the GACC data showed.
China's steel exports remained elevated last month, as shipments mainly fulfilled those orders placed one to two months earlier. The full impact of rising trade frictions targeting Chinese steel products had yet to be fully felt, sources noted.
Amid growing concerns over a deteriorating global trade environment, many Chinese exporters expedited shipments to get ahead of potential policy changes, which further boosted April's steel exports, Mysteel Global learned.
Some Chinese exporters also adapted their steel product offerings and shifted destinations to maintain overseas orders. For now, the volume of new orders has not declined significantly.
"The impact of higher tariffs is limited for us, as our recent orders mainly come from buyers in the Americas," a steel exporter based in East China's Zhejiang province told Mysteel Global. However, she expressed caution about future export prospects due to rising global trade uncertainties.
Market participants expect the negative effects of escalating trade tensions to begin materializing this month. Meanwhile, Chinese prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC) have been hovering low over the past month.
As of May 8, China's national average price of Q235 4.75mm HRC was assessed by Mysteel at Yuan 3,325/tonne ($458/t) including the 13% VAT, down by Yuan 15/t month on month.
Source:Mysteel Global
