1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Views of the Report - Since achieving a net steel export in 2006, China's steel product export volume as a proportion of the global total has been on an upward trend. In recent years, due to tariff disturbances, the domestic steel export market has been expanding, with the export scale increasing year by year. The export volume exceeded 100 million tons in 2024 and reached a new high in 2025 [5][9]. - In 2025, steel exports showed several characteristics: a shift in the export variety structure with the increase coming from long - products, diversification of export countries with an increasing share of emerging markets, and a situation of increasing volume but decreasing price, indicating that the strong steel export was mainly supported by low - price advantages [5][12][16]. - Currently, the domestic price advantage remains, and there is an increase in overseas demand, so the resilience of steel exports still exists. However, there are also more challenges in the future, such as intensified trade frictions, domestic policy adjustments, the EU carbon tariff policy, the recovery of overseas supply, and the pressure of RMB appreciation [5][23][26]. - In summary, weak domestic demand forced steel mills to increase exports, and with good price advantages, steel exports in 2025 were strong, alleviating domestic pressure. However, with the increase of challenges, the resilience of steel exports will be impacted, and the direct export volume may decline from its peak [5][44][47]. 3. Summary by Directory 3.1 2025 Steel Exports Reached a New High - China is the world's largest steel producer, and its steel export pattern affects the global steel product trade pattern. In 2025, despite trade barriers, the steel export volume continued to grow. The cumulative export volume of steel products in 2025 was 119.02 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 830,000 tons or 7.50%. Meanwhile, steel imports remained sluggish, with an import volume of only 6.06 million tons in 2025, a year - on - year decrease of 75,000 tons or 11%. The export of steel billets also performed well in 2025, with the cumulative export volume from January to November reaching 1.33801 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 782,000 tons or 140.64%. The combined export increase of steel and steel billets was 1.7 million tons, effectively alleviating the weak domestic demand pressure [9]. - In 2025, steel exports had the following characteristics: - **Shift in export variety structure**: The export increase came from long - products. Due to the downturn in the real estate market, the surplus of domestic construction steel (long - products) increased, and exports became an important factor in adjusting domestic supply - demand balance. From January to November, the cumulative export volumes of bars, sections, and wire rods increased by 527,000 tons, 183,000 tons, and 29,000 tons respectively, with year - on - year growth rates of 43.95%, 34.33%, and 12.13%. In contrast, the export growth rate of plates slowed down, and the export of ordinary plates such as hot - rolled coils and cold - rolled coils was directly affected by anti - dumping measures [12]. - **Diversification of export countries**: Traditional markets were under pressure due to anti - dumping policies, but emerging markets were rising. Southeast Asian countries, the Middle East, Africa, and South America all showed an increase in steel imports from China [16]. - **Increasing volume but decreasing price**: In 2025, the total steel export volume was 119 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 7.50%, while the export value was 82.578 billion US dollars, a year - on - year decrease of 1.26%, indicating that the strong steel export was mainly supported by low - price advantages [19]. 3.2 Steel Exports Face More Challenges - **Reasons for the high - growth of steel exports in 2025**: On the one hand, the intensification of domestic supply - demand contradictions forced steel mills to increase exports. On the other hand, there was a significant cost advantage, and the price difference between domestic and overseas markets was the core driving force for steel exports. Currently, the resilience of steel exports still exists because the domestic price advantage remains, and there is an increase in overseas steel demand. The World Steel Association estimates that global steel demand will rebound moderately by 1.3% in 2026, reaching 1.773 billion tons [23]. - **Challenges in 2026**: - **Intensified trade frictions**: In recent years, the EU, South Korea, Vietnam and other countries have frequently launched "double - anti" investigations and imposed high tariffs on Chinese steel products, resulting in a decline in China's export share in these markets. In 2024, there were 33 original investigations on trade remedies for Chinese steel products, and in 2025, there were more than 150 investigations or arbitrations. In 2026, as the anti - dumping cases from 2024 - 2025 enter the final ruling stage, China's steel exports will face more extensive trade resistance [26]. - **Domestic export policy adjustment**: On December 12, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs decided to adjust the "Catalogue of Goods Subject to Export License Administration (2025)", including some steel products with 300 customs commodity codes in the catalogue. It is difficult to assess the actual impact of this policy on exports for now. If strictly implemented, large steel enterprises may be less affected, while small and medium - sized enterprises may face restrictions [29]. - **EU carbon tariff policy**: The EU carbon tariff (CBAM) officially started to be levied on January 1, 2026. Once the free quota is completely removed, the CBAM cost of exporting one ton of steel to the EU will increase by 140 - 160 euros, eroding the profit space of enterprises. The implementation of CBAM will significantly weaken China's price advantage in steel exports, and Chinese steel products will face a competitive situation of "being attacked from both inside and outside" in the EU market. In addition, the compliance threshold has been greatly increased, and the short - term export process will be blocked [31]. - **Recovery of overseas supply**: From January to November 2025, the crude steel output of overseas countries (excluding China) was 766.888 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 1.798 million tons or 0.24%. The emerging markets of India and Southeast Asia maintained high - growth, and the production capacities of Turkey and Iran were recovering. In addition, the weakening of the US dollar credit and the pressure of RMB appreciation will also suppress domestic steel exports [35]. 3.3 Conclusion - China's steel exports have been increasing year by year. In 2025, steel exports reached a new high, showing characteristics such as a shift in the export variety structure, diversification of export countries, and increasing volume but decreasing price. Currently, the resilience of steel exports still exists, but in the future, there will be more challenges, and the direct export volume may decline from its peak [45][47].

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is Neutral, maintained [11] Core Insights - Steel exports showed resilience with a volume of 10.58 million tons in May 2025, up 11.5% year-on-year and 1.1% month-on-month, despite a decline in export prices [2][8] - The report highlights that the growth in steel exports is supported by the opening of new markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, which offsets declines from traditional markets like Vietnam and South Korea due to anti-dumping measures [8][10] - The export structure is shifting towards higher-value products, with significant increases in the export volumes of rebar and wire rods, which counterbalance declines in flat steel products [9][10] Summary by Sections Export Performance - In May 2025, steel export volume reached 10.58 million tons, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 11.5% and a month-on-month increase of 1.1%. The average export price was $698 per ton, down 8.5% year-on-year but up 0.5% month-on-month [2][8] - The report notes that the export volume exceeded market expectations, particularly in light of anticipated declines due to geopolitical tensions and trade conflicts [2][8] Market Dynamics - The report indicates that the overall demand for steel remains weak, with apparent consumption down 2.34% year-on-year but up 2.21% month-on-month [6] - Inventory levels have slightly decreased, with total steel inventory down 1.19% week-on-week, indicating a gradual reduction in stockpiles as the market enters a seasonal lull [7] Export Market Analysis - The report identifies that while exports to Vietnam and South Korea have declined significantly (26% and 11% respectively), exports to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Malaysia have increased by 27%, 51%, 17%, and 41% respectively [8][9] - The shift in export focus to emerging markets is seen as a strategic response to the challenges posed by anti-dumping tariffs in traditional markets [10] Product Mix and Pricing - The growth in exports of construction steel products has helped mitigate the decline in flat steel exports, with rebar and wire rod exports increasing by 89% and 40% respectively [9][10] - The report emphasizes that the export price decline is part of a broader strategy of "trading price for volume," which may lead to future trade disputes but currently supports export volumes [10]