NEWS

In response to the challenge posed by South Korea, Vietnam, and other countries imposing anti-dumping duties on Chinese steel, Chinese steel companies are shifting from a passive response to a proactive approach. In the short term, entrepot trade is key – using third countries like Malaysia and Thailand as transit routes allows companies to circumvent anti-dumping duties of up to 38%, but incurs an additional 10-15% in costs. In the long term, this requires the development of overseas bases. A leading steel company has invested in a 2 million ton annual electric furnace in Indonesia, scheduled to begin operations in 2026 and directly supply the Southeast Asian market.

At the policy level, the Ministry of Commerce encourages companies to participate in regional cooperation under the RCEP framework, projecting a 28% year-on-year increase in steel exports to RCEP member countries in 2025. Industry insiders suggest that steel companies combine product differentiation with localized services, such as promoting high-strength construction steel in the Indian market and focusing on wind power steel in the Brazilian market, leveraging technological advantages to offset trade barriers.

According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs, China's steel exports reached 115 million tons from January to July 2025, an increase of 8.3% year-on-year, continuing the trend of sustained export expansion in recent years. Notably, the export product structure is rapidly shifting from traditional long products to high-value-added flat products. High-end products such as hot-rolled coil and cold-rolled plate account for 28% of exports, while low-value-added products such as bars and wire rod account for less than 10%. This shift is attributed to technological upgrades by domestic steel companies and the precise regulation of export tax rebate policies.

Industry analysts point out that Southeast Asia remains the core market for China's steel exports, accounting for over 30%; however, demand in emerging markets such as India and Brazil is growing significantly. India's steel consumption is expected to increase by 8.5% year-on-year in 2025, providing new growth opportunities for Chinese steel companies. However, rising global trade protectionism still poses challenges. In the first half of the year, 19 trade investigations were launched against Chinese steel, with anti-dumping measures covering multiple countries. In response, the China Iron and Steel Association recommends that companies adopt a dual-track approach of "entrepot trade plus overseas base development," for example, leveraging transit advantages in countries like Malaysia to circumvent tariff barriers.

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