Imports fell by 11% last year China increased its steel exports by 7.5% year-on-year in 2025 to a record 119.02 million tons, according to the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), citing customs data. In December, Chinese metallurgists exported 11.3 million tons of steel, which is 13.2% more than in the previous month. The average price of these exports was 679.7/ton (-2.3% month-on-month). Steel imports to the country in January-December 2025 amounted to 6.06 million tons, down 11.1% year-on-year. In December, the figure was 517 thousand tons (+4.2% month-on-month). The average price of these imports was $1,810.3/t (+11% month-on-month). At the same time, China increased its ore imports by 1.8% year-on-year last year to 1.26 billion tons. These volumes have been growing for the third year in a row. In December, the figure was 119.64 million tons, w...

The Ministry of Trade has published preliminary rates for producers from Algeria, Egypt, and Vietnam The US has set preliminary countervailing duties (CVD) for rebar producers from Algeria, Egypt, and Vietnam—the three largest suppliers of this product to the country before the tariffs were introduced in March 2025. This was reported by Argus Media. The US Department of Commerce has confirmed the following countervailing duty rates (for all steel producers from the countries listed) Vietnam – 1.08%, Egypt – 29.51%, Algeria – 72.94%. Compensation and anti-dumping investigations into rebar from these three countries, as well as Bulgaria, were launched in June last year by the US Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration (ITA). The review period is 2024. Egypt was the largest source of import...

Regulatory restrictions should curb excess capacity, but the effect on global prices remains uncertain China will continue to strictly regulate steel production and prohibit the emergence of illegal new capacities in the period 2026-2030. The decision was confirmed as part of the preparation of the Five-Year Development Plan for the industry, Reuters reports. The restrictions, first introduced in 2021 to reduce CO2 emissions, were also a response to the prolonged decline in domestic demand caused by the crisis in the real estate market and chronic oversupply. In the first 11 months of 2025, steel production in China fell by 4% year-on-year, and the annual figure is estimated to fall below 1 billion tons for the first time in six years. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) emphasizes that the raw materials industry, including steelmaking, is fac...

Regulatory changes were a key factor in the European market The global market for hot-rolled coil experienced moderate pressure in 2025. Despite an upward trend at the end of the year, average annual prices for products fell by 5-12%. The exception is the US, where the indicator rose by an average of 11.1% over the year. Europe In the EU market, average annual prices for hot-rolled coil (HRC) declined in most key regions. In Western Europe, the indicator fell by 4.6% compared to 2024, amounting to €603.2/t Ex works. As of mid-December, offers in the region are €620/t Ex works, which is 9.3% more than in December 2024 and 1.6% more than in the previous month. This level has been maintained since the beginning of the month and is the highest since the beginning of June. In Italy, the average annual figure for 2025 is €578.4/t Ex works, which is 7% ...

In 2026, according to MPI forecasts, this figure will fall by 1% Steel consumption in China will reach approximately 808 million tons in 2025, down 5.4% year-on-year. This is according to a recent report by the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute (MPI), Kallanish reports. In 2026, annual rolled steel consumption will fall by 1% y/y to 800 million tons. The forecasts are based on a combination of steel consumption and consumption in the manufacturing industry. This year, according to MPI estimates, steel consumption in the construction sector has fallen by almost 13% to 400 million tons due to the situation in the real estate market. Demand related to this sector is expected to decline by 4.1% year-on-year in 2026, to 384 million tons. At the same time, demand for steel in the automotive industry will grow by 10.9% to 66.7 millio...

The production capacity of the new line will be 1 million tons   China has completed construction of its first near-zero carbon steel production line with a capacity of 1 million tons in Zhanjiang (Guangdong Province), according to CGTN. This production line, owned by Baowu Steel, uses an advanced hydrogen-based reduction process and electric arc furnace. It is noted that direct reduced iron (DRI) produced in a hydrogen-based blast furnace has achieved its metallization targets, while high-efficiency electric furnaces improve overall energy utilization. Compared with traditional processes, the line can reduce carbon emissions by 50-80%. The project is in line with the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), a period identified as critical for promoting high-quality development of the steel sector through green transformation. Between 2021 and 2024...