Posted on 21 Jan 2026
China's stainless steel net exports surged 11.9% year-on-year to 3.51 million tonnes in 2025, driven by a record-breaking performance in December, according to new data released by the General Administration of Customs (GACC) on January 20.
Exports during December soared 19.7% on-year to 485,000 tonnes, the data show. The year-end spike reflects an accelerated export push ahead of China's reinstatement of an export licensing system for all steel products including stainless, effective from January 1 this year.
Announced jointly by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and the GACC on December 12, the policy reintroduces a key regulatory framework, requiring exporters to secure licenses based on formal export contracts and manufacturer-issued quality inspection certificates, as Mysteel Global has reported.
This prompted exporters to expedite shipments to avoid potential additional costs, procedural delays, and compliance challenges arising from the new regulations.
December exports showed broad-based growth, with cold-rolled coil shipments, for example, rising 25.6% month-on-month to 230,900 tonnes, the GACC statistics indicate.
The largest increases were to Vietnam, India and Taiwan, with the surge in shipments to India reflecting New Delhi's November 20 announcement to extend Quality Control Order exemptions for certain stainless products through till March 2026, Mysteel Global notes. Exports to India surged 57.7% on month in December and reached 25,000 tonnes, according to the GACC data.
Last year, China's total stainless exports reached 5.03 million tonnes, up 0.3% year-on-year, while imports plummeted 19.1% to 1.52 million tonnes, the import decline being the primary contributor to the net export expansion.
The sustained export strength provided crucial relief for mills grappling with domestic structural oversupply and weak property-sector demand throughout 2025.
Market analysts note that December's exceptional performance underscores the industry's growing dependence on overseas markets to absorb China's substantial production capacity. With domestic consumption remaining constrained, maintaining export momentum will be critical for market balance in 2026, though this will require navigating ongoing trade barriers and pressures from competitors such as Indonesian stainless mills.
Source:Mysteel Global
