According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS), in March 2025, the country’s metallurgical enterprises raised steel production by 4.6% compared to the same period last year, reaching 92.84 million tons. This is the highest figure in the last 10 months, indicating stable growth in the sector. The data is reported by Reuters.
This is reported by Бізнес • Медіа
The average daily steel production in March was 2.99 million tons, while in January-February this figure was 2.82 million tons, and in March 2024 it was 2.85 million tons. The increase in production volumes was supported by stable exports and a recovery in profitability for enterprises. According to reports, in March about 53% of metallurgical companies operated at a profit, compared to only 25% a year ago. The expansion of the industrial sector and active external supplies partially offset the negative impact of the crisis on the real estate market.
Future Expectations for Steel Production in China
Experts predict that in April, production rates may decline due to uncertainty regarding exports and domestic demand.
“Metallurgists are mainly maintaining current production levels, so we see limited room for further growth in steel output this month”
, explained Pei Hao, a senior analyst at the Shanghai office of Freight Investor Services.
Analysts note that in April, steel exports may decrease due to rising trade tensions between China and the United States. Additionally, there are doubts about the stability of domestic demand.
“Steel exports may decline in April due to increasing trade restrictions. We are also cautiously assessing steel consumption in the infrastructure sector,” added the expert.
As of the first quarter of 2025, the total steel production volume in China increased by 0.6% to 259.33 million tons. As reported by GMK Center, in 2024, Chinese metallurgical companies reduced steel production by 1.7% compared to the previous year, producing 1.005 billion tons. This is the lowest figure in the last five years. Experts believe that 2024 will be the last year when steel production in China exceeds 1 billion tons, as the country’s authorities announced plans to reduce production volumes as part of the industry’s reorganization.