Chinese steel exports returned to record!

Unabated by repeated headlines on steel import tariffs (28 cases in 2024), Chinese steel exports in October rose +41% on a YoY basis.

Graph in IFCHOR GALBRAITHS' colour palette showing China's steel exports from January to October 2024, with a 41% year-on-year increase in October reaching 11.2 Mt, approaching a steel export record. The chart compares 2024 data with 2022 and 2023 trends, with October 2024 exports hitting a peak within the 5-year min & max range.

With 11.2Mt, it matched the current monthly export record in September 2015. With 92Mt, the cumulated steel exports in 2024 (Jan-Oct) are only 1Mt below its current record of 2016. Interestingly, the acceleration of Chinese exports in October followed a 3-month period where exports of Chinese vehicles stagnated near record 600’000 units/month and the decision of Chinese authorities to deploy financial stimulus measures.

For more insights on this topic and its impact on the freight market, contact us at [email protected].