Core Viewpoint - The Chinese government is reintroducing export license management for certain steel products starting January 1, 2026, marking a significant shift in steel export regulation after 16 years of deregulation [1][2]. Group 1: Export License Management - The export license management will cover 300 customs commodity codes, encompassing the entire steel industry chain from raw materials to finished products [1]. - This initiative aims to guide the standardized export of steel products, promoting high-quality development in the steel industry and maintaining global supply-demand balance [1][2]. Group 2: Industry Challenges and Responses - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with other departments, has emphasized the need to strengthen steel product export management to optimize the export product structure [2]. - In the first 11 months of 2025, China's steel exports reached 107.7 million tons, a 6.7% increase year-on-year, with an expected annual total of 115 million tons, surpassing the historical high of 112 million tons in 2015 [2]. - Despite the growth in export volume, there are structural issues, such as declining export prices and a surge in low-value-added primary product exports, which contradict the long-term goals of high-quality development [2][3]. Group 3: Price and Trade Dynamics - In the first half of 2025, steel exports amounted to 58.15 million tons, a 9.2% year-on-year increase, but the average export price fell by 10.3% to $699.3 per ton, leading to a 2.0% decrease in export value to $40.66 billion [3]. - The significant increase in steel billet exports, which tripled to 5.89 million tons, alongside a 15.3% drop in export prices, indicates that some companies are still engaged in price competition at a basic level [3]. Group 4: Trade Friction and Market Strategy - The steel industry has faced a record number of trade friction cases, with over 50 anti-dumping cases since 2024, affecting products like hot-rolled sheets and medium-thick plates, with tariffs as high as 38.02% imposed by countries such as Vietnam and India [3]. - The export license management is expected to compel companies to adjust their product structures and optimize export market strategies, reducing reliance on traditional markets with high anti-dumping duties and exploring emerging markets in Africa and Latin America [3]. Group 5: Recommendations for Companies - Companies are advised to familiarize themselves with the specific product catalog under management and prepare necessary export contract and quality inspection documents ahead of time [4]. - There is a call for increased R&D investment to develop high-end products such as high-performance bearing steel and gear steel, with some leading domestic companies already exporting "green steel" products that achieve significant carbon reductions [4].

商务部网站12月12日消息，商务部、海关总署公布对部分钢铁产品实施出口许可证管理。全文如下： 附件：纳入出口许可证管理的部分钢铁产品目录 商务部 海关总署 一、将部分钢铁产品（详见附件）纳入目录。 二、对外贸易经营者出口上述货物，应凭货物出口合同、生产商开具的产品质量检验合格证明申领出口 许可证。商务部和受商务部委托的省级地方（各省、自治区、直辖市及计划单列市、新疆生产建设兵 团）商务主管部门及部分副省级城市（沈阳市、长春市、哈尔滨市、南京市、武汉市、广州市、成都 市、西安市）商务主管部门按照分工签发出口许可证。在京国务院国资委监管企业申领出口许可证，由 商务部许可证局签发，其他企业申领出口许可证，由所在地省级地方商务主管部门或副省级城市商务主 管部门签发。其他未尽事宜按照商务部、海关总署公告2024年第65号执行。 三、本公告自2026年1月1日起执行。 2025年12月9日 依据《中华人民共和国对外贸易法》《中华人民共和国货物进出口管理条例》《货物出口许可证管理办 法》等法律、行政法规和规章，商务部、海关总署决定对《出口许可证管理货物目录（2025年）》（以 下简称目录）进行调整。有关事项公告如下： ...

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs of China announced the implementation of export license management for certain steel products starting January 1, 2026 [1] Group 1: Regulatory Changes - The announcement is based on the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China and related regulations, leading to adjustments in the "Export License Management Goods Directory (2025)" to include certain steel products [1] - Exporters of the specified steel products will be required to obtain export licenses by providing export contracts and product quality inspection certificates issued by manufacturers [1]