According to the General Administration of Customs of China (GAAC), from January to March this year, China's steel bar exports totaled 4.23 million tons, up 2.7 percent year-on-year, while wire rod exports totaled 570,000 tons, down 13.0 percent year-on-year. At the same time, China's export volumes of angles/channels during the period amounted to 1.91 million tons, an increase of 17.8 percent year on year.
In March alone, China's exports of steel bars and angles/channels amounted to 1.92 million tons and 700,000 tons, up 15.5 percent and 11.8 percent year-on-year. While Chinese wire rod exports amounted to 200,000 tons, down 28.0 percent from last year.
Against the backdrop of the EU CBAM coming into force from early 2026 and tightening import quotas, steel exports from China have shifted to countries along the Belt and Road. Emerging markets in Southeast and Central Asia are experiencing robust infrastructure demand, which is driving demand for steel rods, which is positively impacting China's exports in the first three months of this year.
