China’s finished steel exports rise 10% in May amid delivery rush

China’s finished steel exports rise 10% in May amid delivery rush
Published by:Jessica Zong<>
9 Jun 2025 @ 08:59 UTC

China’s exports of finished steel increased in May on both a month-on-month and year-on-year basis, according to preliminary data published by General Administration of Customs on Monday June 9. China exported 10.58 million tonnes of finished steel in May, up by 1.1% from 10.46 million tonnes in April and up by 9.9% from 9.63 million tonnes a year earlier.
The total exports were 48.47 million tonnes in the first five months, up by 8.9% year on year from 44.51 million tonnes.

China imported 481,000 tonnes of finished steel in May, down by 7.9% from 522,000 tonnes in April and down by 24.5% from 637,000 tonnes a year earlier.
Imports totaled 2.55 million tonnes in first five months, down by 16.1% from 3.04 million tonnes in the same period a year ago.

Market participants told Fastmarkets that they believe the cargoes departing from Chinese ports in May were primarily booked in March and April.
Chinese exporters took advantage of the low export prices in May to ship out their contracts, so that they could secure some profit margins, one China-based exporter source said.
However, there are concerns among most market participants over the additional 25% tariff imposed by the United States on global steel suppliers since June 4, source told Fastmarkets.
The new steel tariff has raised the export costs for global steel suppliers and will negatively impact the global steel export volumes, including China, a second exporter in China said.
Movements in export prices of China’s key steel products in May are as follows:
Fastmarkets’ calculation of its steel hot-rolled coil index export, fob main port China was at $447 per tonne on May 30, down by $6.67 per tonne from $453.67 per tonne on April 30.
Fastmarkets’ weekly assessment for steel cold-rolled coil export, fob China main port was at $515-525 per tonne on May 27, down by $10-15 per tonne from $530-535 per tonne on April 29.
Fastmarkets’ weekly assessment for steel galvanized coil 1mm export, fob main port China was $575-590 per tonne on May 27, compared with $580-590 per tonne on April 29.
Fastmarkets’ weekly assessment for steel heavy plate export, fob China main port was $490-500 per tonne on May 27, up by $5-10 per tonne from $480-495 per tonne on April 29.
Fastmarkets’ weekly assessment for steel wire rod (mesh quality) export, fob China main port was $460-470 per tonne on May 27, down by $7-10 per tonne from $467-480 per tonne on April 29.
Fastmarkets’ calculation for steel reinforcing bar (rebar) index export, fob China main port was $461.25 per tonne on May 27, down by $8.75 per tonne from $470 per tonne on April 29.