探迹科技：2025年钢材行业发展趋势报告

Industry Development Background and Transformation Direction - The global industrial system is undergoing three major trends: "decarbonization, intelligence, and localization," placing the Chinese steel industry at a critical turning point of capacity restructuring and value reassessment. The industry faces overcapacity issues and stricter environmental policies, pushing companies towards green production while new demands from renewable energy infrastructure and high-end equipment manufacturing create structural opportunities. The report suggests three strategic paths: "green transformation, high-end transition, and scenario-based deepening" to help companies find incremental space in a competitive environment [1]. Five Core Perspectives - Policy-Driven Capacity Clearance and Green Transition: Environmental policies accelerate the exit of outdated capacities, with leading companies enhancing industry concentration through integration. The scrap steel VAT policy promotes short-process steelmaking, and low-carbon processes like hydrogen metallurgy are key technological breakthroughs. Green transition is not only a compliance requirement but also creates new value through carbon trading [2]. - Explosive Demand for High-End Steel and Accelerated Domestic Substitution: The low-end steel market is highly competitive, while sectors like new energy vehicles and aerospace see significant growth in demand for high-end steel (e.g., high-strength steel, silicon steel). The high-end steel market share is expected to rise from 24% in 2024 to 25.5% in 2025, with domestic companies innovating to reduce import reliance [3]. - AI Technology Restructuring Production and Marketing Systems: AI has evolved from an "auxiliary tool" to a "core productivity," optimizing production processes (e.g., AI visual inspection, digital twins), supply chain management (e.g., intelligent forecasting models), and precision marketing (e.g., customer acquisition tools). Companies using AI technology have seen significant improvements in customer acquisition efficiency [4]. - Digital Intelligence Empowering Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement: In the context of overcapacity and demand differentiation, traditional sales models face challenges. Digital intelligence tools help accurately target customers, reduce acquisition costs, and enhance productivity. For instance, companies using intelligent sales tools have reduced customer acquisition time from 4 hours to 30 minutes and cut acquisition costs by 90% [5]. - Structural Growth Strategies under Dual Circulation: The domestic market shows regional differentiation, with eastern regions focusing on high-end products while central and western regions rely on infrastructure and industrial transfer to release demand. Overseas markets need to overcome technical certification barriers, with coastal companies launching marine climate-resistant stainless steel to expand internationally [6]. Incremental Customer Groups and Scenario Opportunities - The downstream customer demand is undergoing structural changes: the construction industry's demand is shifting westward, while the east focuses on high-end steel; the machinery manufacturing and home appliance sectors primarily consist of small and medium customers who prioritize price and customization; the photovoltaic industry exhibits a "dumbbell-shaped" demand structure, with leading companies requiring high-end customized steel and small installers relying on standardized products [7]. Typical Cases and Technology Applications - The report showcases multiple cases demonstrating the effectiveness of technology implementation: a stainless steel company using customer acquisition tools increased its potential customer count from 13 to 40 per month, achieving a fivefold improvement in order efficiency. Another steel company in Foshan enhanced customer follow-up efficiency eightfold, increasing monthly customer acquisition from 500 to 3,000. These practices indicate that AI and big data technologies have become core means for companies to overcome growth bottlenecks [8]. Future Trend Outlook - The core competitiveness of the steel industry will focus on "incremental market exploration" and "scenario service reconstruction." Companies need to respond to changes through technological innovation (e.g., superconducting magnet steelmaking), ecological collaboration (binding downstream leaders), and regional precision cultivation (market proximity), transitioning the industry from "scale-driven" to "value-driven" and securing a more advantageous position in global high-end materials competition [9].