Source:China Steel News Network

The Market Research Department of China Iron and Steel Association: In the first quarter, China's steel product exports continued the trend of "one increase and three decreases" (increase in export volume, decrease in export price, decrease in export value, and decrease in the export of high-end products) seen in 2024, while steel product imports continued the pattern of decrease in volume and increase as seen in 2024.

In terms of exports, in the first quarter, the export volume of steel reached 27.43 million tons, an increase of 1.629 million tons year-on-year, with a growth rate of 6.3%. The average export price was 705.7 US dollars per ton, a year-on-year decrease of 10.5%. The export volume of steel billets was 2.57 million tons, an increase of 2 million tons year-on-year, with a growth rate of 353.8%. The net export volume of crude steel was 29.13 million tons, an increase of 4.52 million tons year-on-year, with a growth rate of 18.4%. In March, the export volume of steel was 10.46 million tons, an increase of 560,000 tons year-on-year, with a growth rate of 5.7%. The average export price was 693.5 US dollars per ton, a year-on-year decrease of 11.5%.

In terms of imports, in the first quarter, the import volume of steel reached 1.55 million tons, a decrease of 200,000 tons year-on-year, representing a decline of 11.3%. The average import price was 1,658.1 US dollars per ton, an increase of 1% year-on-year. The import volume of steel billets was 280,000 tons, a decrease of 620,000 tons compared with the same period last year, representing a decline of 69.1%. In March, the import volume of steel was 500,000 tons, a decrease of 120,000 tons compared with the same period last year, representing a decline of 18.8%. The average import price was 1,698.0 US dollars per ton, up 4.4% year-on-year.

In the first quarter, steel exports continued the previous trend of increasing in quantity but decreasing in price. The export volume of steel billets increased significantly, while the price dropped sharply. Since February, the United States has frequently adjusted its tariff policy, seriously affecting the global trade pattern. Recently, some neighboring countries have initiated anti-dumping investigations against China and have successively begun to impose provisional anti-dumping duties. Taking all these factors into account, it is expected that the volume of China's steel exports will slightly decline in the second quarter, and the export prices are likely to stabilize. However, the steel market is influenced by a variety of factors, including the international political and economic situation, fluctuations in raw material prices, and adjustments in domestic industrial policies. It is still necessary to closely monitor market dynamics in the future so as to formulate timely response strategies.

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