A senior executive at Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel has reportedly indicated that Asia's long steel glut, fueled by Chinese exports, may be coming to an end, potentially paving the way for the market to stabilize.
Nippon Steel Chief Financial Officer Takahiko Iwai said Chinese exporters are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain profitability overseas as regional steel markets oversupplied, and trade restrictions have reduced available export destinations.
China, the world's largest steel producer, expanded exports to offset weak domestic demand linked to a slump in the real estate sector. Although overall production fell last year, steel exports from China increased 7.5 percent to a record 119 million tons in 2025.
Trade barriers and licensing system tighten export channels
Rising protectionism has led countries such as Vietnam, South Korea and Australia has introduced anti-dumping measures. Japan has also launched an anti-dumping investigation into some Chinese and South Korean steel products, including hot-dip galvanized coil, sheet and strip.
While China has sought to redirect supplies to less restrictive markets such as the Middle East and has increased exports of semi-finished products, new domestic controls could limit future volumes. Since January 1, Beijing has implemented a broad licensing system covering various steel products, signaling efforts to
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