US EditionChina crude steel output hits seven-year low in 2025 despite record exports
China's steel output fell 4.4% to 961 million tons amid weak demand and property crisis, while aluminum production rose 2.4% to a record 45 million tons, officials said.
- On Jan 19, National Bureau of Statistics reported China produced 960.81 million tons of crude steel in 2025, the lowest output since 2018 and below 1 billion tons.
- A prolonged property slump forced a protracted property-market downturn that reduced construction demand and squeezed Chinese steelmakers' profitability, with steel reinforcing bars' share falling to 13% from 23% in 2019.
- For December, data showed a seventh consecutive monthly decline as output fell to 68.18 million tons, while steel exports rose to a record of just over 119 million tons, mainly flat steel.
- Demand linked to the energy transition helped Chinese aluminum producers climb output 2.4% to 45.02 million tons last year, exceeding the 45-million-ton capacity cap and aiding energy transition sectors.
- Regulators plan to continue curbing crude steel output from 2026 to 2030, with Ge Xin forecasting a roughly 3% fall in 2026 while China Iron & Steel Association shows daily production near 2 million tons.
11 Articles
11 Articles
China Aluminum Output at Record, Steel Below 1 Billion Tons
Chinese aluminum output rose to an all-time high last year, climbing above the country’s capacity limit, while steel fell to a seven-year low, underscoring dramatically different prospects for the two most widely used metals.
China crude steel output hits seven-year low in 2025 despite record exports
China's crude steel output in 2025 fell below 1 billion metric tons to a seven-year low as a protracted downturn in the property market hurt demand, although steel exports rose to record levels.
China's Aluminum Output Hits Record, Steel Below 1 Billion Tons
(Bloomberg) — Chinese aluminum output rose to an all-time high last year, climbing above the country’s capacity limit, while steel fell to a seven-year low, underscoring dramatically different prospects for the two most widely used metals.
China’s Crude Steel Output Falls For Second Straight Year
China’s Crude Steel Output Falls For Second Straight Year - The drop highlights a broader structural transition where a prolonged property slump has weakened domestic appetite for construction materials, pushing mills to rely more on overseas markets
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