New Strategies for Steel Export under the Tide of Anti-dumping: Surge in Semi-finished Products and Market Shift

Global trade protectionism is on the rise

Recently, the EU has been making frequent moves in the steel trade. On one hand, the European Commission has announced anti-dumping investigations into cold-rolled steel products originating from India, Japan, Turkey, and Vietnam. On the other hand, the EU has been reportedly planning to introduce stricter trade protection policies, significantly increasing tariffs on most imported steel products from the current 25% to 50%, aligning with relevant US policies. While these measures are intended to protect the domestic steel industry, they have also sparked concerns among downstream manufacturers within Europe, who believe they will increase production costs and weaken international competitiveness.

Furthermore, new trade barriers have emerged in the Middle East market. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade has officially launched an anti-dumping investigation into heavy steel products originating from China at the request of local manufacturers.

Structural Shift in Export Structure

Faced with trade restrictions on finished steel products imposed by multiple countries, China's steel exports have shown a clear structural differentiation. A notable trend is the explosive growth in exports of semi-finished steel products (primarily billets), with year-on-year growth exceeding 300% in the first half of 2025. This phenomenon is primarily due to anti-dumping duties imposed by countries like Vietnam and South Korea on finished products like hot-rolled coil, while regulations on semi-finished products are relatively relaxed, leading to a shift in trade flows.

Meanwhile, traditional flat products (such as hot-rolled and cold-rolled plates) have come under pressure due to anti-dumping measures, with exports to major markets like Vietnam and South Korea experiencing a significant decline.

Belt and Road Markets Emerge as New Growth Points

Against the backdrop of rising trade protectionism and shifting export structures, Belt and Road countries like Africa and Latin America are becoming important emerging markets for Chinese steel exports. These regions are vigorously promoting the construction of large-scale infrastructure such as railways, highways, ports, and energy, resulting in severe local production capacity shortages and a significant gap in steel demand.

Nigeria: From January to August 2025, China's steel exports to Nigeria reached 1.27 million tons, matching the entire previous year's total, making the country an emerging market for Chinese steel exports.

High-end Project Collaboration: Chinese companies are not only exporting steel but also winning high-end orders through their technological prowess. For example, TISCO Group successfully won a bid for high-grade pipeline steel in Algeria, which will be used to build the country's crucial oil and gas transmission network.

Full-chain exports: Chinese companies now export a full range of products, from basic building materials (such as steel billets and rebar) to high-end customized profiles, providing comprehensive services from production and logistics to on-site technical guidance.