In the January-March period this year, China’s exports of steel bars totaled 4.23 million mt, up 2.7 percent year on year, while wire rod exports amounted to 570,000 mt, down 13.0 percent year on year, according to the General Administration of Customs of China (GAAC). At the same time, China’s export volumes of angles/channels came to 1.91 million mt in the given period, increasing by 17.8 percent year on year.
In March alone, China’s exports of steel bars and angles/channels totaled 1.92 million mt and 700,000 mt, up 15.5 percent and 11.8 percent year on year, while China’s exports of wire rod amounted to 200,000 mt, down 28.0 percent year on year.
Against the backdrop of the EU’s CBAM taking effect from the beginning of 2026 and tightening import quotas, China’s steel exports have been shifted toward countries along the One Belt One Road. Emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Central Asia have been experiencing robust infrastructure demand, driving demand for steel bars, positively affecting China’s exports in the first three months this year.
