On August 7, 2025, China reported a sharp increase in steel exports, reaching a record 9.84 million metric tons in July—up 1.7% from June, according to official customs data. This surge brings total steel exports for the first seven months of 2025 to 67.98 million tons, the highest figure ever recorded since data tracking began in 1990.

This historic export volume comes despite growing global trade protectionism. Since early 2024, over 40 countries have launched anti-dumping or safeguard investigations into Chinese steel, citing concerns over unfair pricing and market distortion. In response, many Chinese steelmakers have shifted their focus toward exporting semi-finished products like billets and slabs, which face fewer trade restrictions compared to finished goods.

At the same time, China’s domestic steel demand has remained sluggish due to a slowing property market and weak infrastructure spending. This has pushed mills to increase their reliance on international markets to sustain output levels.

The surge in exports has also raised concerns among global steel producers, who fear intensified price competition. Analysts expect trade tensions to escalate further as more countries seek to protect domestic industries from what they see as an oversupply of Chinese steel flooding global