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China's Customs Data on Stainless Steel and Major Raw Material Imports and Exports, May 2025 and January-May 2025

1. China's Stainless Steel Imports and Exports, January-May 2025  

Cumulative imports: 718,000 tons. Cumulative exports: 2.11 million tons, an increase of 10.36% year-on-year.  

Cumulative net exports (January-May): 1.3921 million tons, a 48.81% increase compared to the same period last year.  

2. China's Stainless Steel Imports and Exports Data for May 2025  

 (1) Imports ：Stainless steel imports: 125,100 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 17,000 tons (12.00%) and a year-on-year decrease of 49,300 tons (28.28%).  

  Imports from Indonesia: 99,300 tons, a month-on-month decline of 14.34% and a year-on-year drop of 32.92%.Cumulative imports from Indonesia (January-May): 590,900 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 30.32%.Wide cold-rolled imports in May: 70,100 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 14.99% and a year-on-year decline of 26.09%.Wide hot-rolled coil imports in May: 16,700 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 2.24% and a year-on-year increase of 69.74%.  Other and semi-finished products imports in May: 12,500 tons (including 10,400 tons of billets and 2,100 tons of slabs), a month-on-month decrease of 23.70% and a year-on-year drop of 71.21%.  

(2) Exports: Stainless steel exports: 436,300 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 2.56% and a year-on-year decrease of 4.66%.  Net exports in May: 311,300 tons, a month-on-month increase of 1.82% and a year-on-year increase of 9.88%.  

3. China's Nickel Ore Imports, May 2025 and January-May 2025  

Cumulative imports (January-May): 10.4345 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 8.00%.  

Imports from the Philippines: 8.6913 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 9.15%.  

Imports in May: 3.9272 million tons, a month-on-month increase of 34.771% and a year-on-year decrease of 14.79%.  

Imports from the Philippines in May: 3.6058 million tons, a month-on-month increase of 44.71% and a year-on-year decrease of 17.19%.  

4. China's Nickel Pig Iron (NPI) Imports, May 2025 and January-May 2025  

Cumulative imports (January-May): 4.5159 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 24.27%.  

Imports from Indonesia: 4.4038 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 25.73%.  

Imports in May: 848,200 tons, a month-on-month increase of 3.83% and a year-on-year increase of 30.19%.  

Imports from Indonesia in May: 826,400 tons, a month-on-month increase of 3.98% and a year-on-year increase of 32.87%.  

5. China's Refined Nickel Imports, May 2025 and January-May 2025  

Cumulative imports (January-May): 77,700 tons, a year-on-year increase of 126.07%.  

Imports from Russia: 7,900 tons, a year-on-year increase of 149.04%.  

Imports in May: 17,500 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 5.78% and a year-on-year increase of 121.85%.  

Imports from Russia in May: 4,900 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 45.73% and a year-on-year increase of 104.49%.  

6. China's Chromite Ore Imports, May 2025 and January-May 2025  

Cumulative imports (January-May): 8.2909 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 2.57%.  

Imports from South Africa: 6.8892 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 3.07%.  

Imports in May: 1.8996 million tons, a month-on-month increase of 25.38% and a year-on-year increase of 4.85%.  

Imports from South Africa in May: 1.6116 million tons, a month-on-month increase of 31.44% and a year-on-year increase of 10.63%.  

7. China's Ferrochrome Imports, May 2025 and January-May 2025  

Cumulative imports (January-May): 1.2547 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 22.27%.  

Imports from South Africa: 587,400 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 24.39%.  

Imports from Zimbabwe: 111,800 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 0.81 million tons (6.76%).  

Imports in May: 157,200 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 38.82% and a year-on-year decrease of 49.62%.  

Imports from South Africa in May: 35,000 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 74.13% and a year-on-year decrease of 68.70%.  

8. China's Manganese Ore Imports, May 2025 and January-May 2025  

Cumulative imports (January-May): 8.9895 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 24.36%.  

Imports from South Africa: 4.6728 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 22.13%.  

Imports from Australia: 207,800 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 86.99%.  

Imports in May: 157,200 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 94.71% and a year-on-year decrease of 93.56%.  

Imports from South Africa in May: 35,000 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 97.6% and a year-on-year decrease of 97.13%.  

Imports from Australia in May: 0 tons, a month-on-month decrease of 100% and a year-on-year decrease of 100%.  

9. China's Stainless Steel Scrap Imports, May 2025 and January-May 2025  

Cumulative imports (January-May): A year-on-year decrease of 5.64%.  

Cumulative imports (January-May): 45,440.54 tons, a decrease of 2,426.02 tons (5.64%) compared to the same period last year.  

In May 2025, the import volume of waste stainless steel was 13,272.30 tons, an increase of 1,160.00 tons month-on-month, an increase of 9.57%; a year-on-year increase of 3,223.62 tons, an increase of 32.08%.

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UAE Steel Market Overview

1. UAE Overview

United A rab Emirates (Arabic: امارات عربية متحدة‎), abbreviated as the United Arab Emirates, total area 83,600 square kilometers, the coastline is 734 kilometers long. As of July 2024, the total population of the UAE was 10.24 million, and the per capita GDP exceeded $50,000.

The UAE is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), with its national economy mainly focused on oil production and petrochemical industry. In addition, it has vigorously developed a knowledge economy with information technology as its core, while focusing on renewable energy research and development. The capital Abu Dhabi was selected as the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency in June 2009. The UAE is also a member of the League of Arab States, the Gulf Cooperation Commission, and the Greater Arab Free Trade Area. The UAE has a lot of oil and gas resources. Proven oil reserves are about15 billion tons and natural gas reserves are 7.7 trillion cubic meters, ranking sixth in the world.

2. UAE's core steel enterprises‌

(1)‌ Emirates Steel Arkan‌: The largest listed steel company in the UAE, mainly engaged in construction steel (reinforced bars, profiles, etc.), with an annual production capacity of over 3 million tons. In recent years, due to the impact of low-priced steel in China, ESA is negotiating with the government to restrict import policies to protect the local market. Its businesses cover steel smelting, building materials production and clean energy cooperation. In 2024, it will cooperate with UAE clean energy giant Masdar to put into production of the Green Hydrogen Steel Pilot Project to promote low-carbon steelmaking technology.

(2) AGSI:Arabian Gulf Steel Industries LLC, the largest steel recycling company in the UAE, is a company focused on steel recycling with annual production capacity.600,000 tons of steel bars, 100% of the steel scrap used comes from China.

(3) Dana Steel‌: Focusing on flat materials production, it announced an investment of 300 million Ah (about 82 million US dollars) in 2025 to build a new factory in Saudi Arabia, and plans to start production in mid-2025 to further expand the Middle East market share. DANA Group is installing a 400,000-ton/year cold rolled line in Dubai Industrial City to ensure the supply of raw materials for its coated steel plate production. It will increase the UAE cold-rolled coil capacity from the current 660,000 tons/year to 1.06 million tons/year.

(4) Al Gharbia Steel Pipe Company: Located in Khalifa Industrial Zone, Abu Dhabi (A factory of KIZAD plans to add 160,000 tons/year to expand the welded pipe capacity to 400,000 tons/year. Al Gharbia Steel Pipe Company has a 240,000 tons/year straight seam submerged arc welded pipe rolling mill with a maximum wall thickness of 45 mm and a steel grade of up to X80, mainly used in offshore pipelines and onshore projects. Aj mal Steel Pipe Industry Corporation plans to increase its production capacity to 1.25 million tons/year, thanks to the new 900,000 tons/year production line, which mainly produces API steel pipes with a diameter of 0.5-20 inches. The company has signed a strategic agreement with the Khalifa Economic Zone (KEZAD) in Abu Dhabi, and will also build a large steel pipe factory in the future.

(5)Al Ghurair Iron & Steel LLC:The largest combined flat steel rolling and hot-dip galvanizing enterprise in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. This annual productionThe 500,000-ton factory is strategically located in the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) in Musafa, Abu Dhabi, mainly meets the needs of the construction, manufacturing and other non-automotive industries in the Middle East and North Africa. AGIS is a joint venture between the UAE Al Ghurair Group and Japan's New Nippon Railway Corporation.

3. Famous UAE steel suppliers and features​

(1) Local leading enterprise: UAE Iron and Steel Company (Emirates Steel, the largest local steel producer in the UAE, accounts for about 60% of the country's production capacity and is also a leading comprehensive steel company in the Middle East. It covers hot-rolled coils, cold-rolled coils, galvanized plates, rebars, wires, profiles (I-shaped steel, H-shaped steel), etc., and provides steel processing services (cutting, molding). It adopts advanced blast furnace-converter technology, complies with international standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and some products have passed the European and American standards such as ASTM and EN. Deeply participate in landmark projects such as the Burj Khalifa, the Louvre of Abu Dhabi, and the Dubai Expo venues, as well as local infrastructure (roads, ports, residences). The advantage is that it has strong localized services, and its logistics network covers major UAE ports (Jebe Ali Port, Abu Dhabi Khalifa Port), and supports regional exports (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, etc.).

(2) Al Ghurair Group: Al Ghurair Group, one of the oldest industrial groups in the UAE, covers steel, aluminum, cement, food, etc. SubsidiaryAl Ghurair Iron & Steel mainly produces rebar, wire, round steel and other construction steels, and is involved in steel trade and distribution. Relying on the group's resources, we provide integrated services of "production + trade + logistics", especially in small and medium-sized construction projects with flexible response.

(3) International steel giants in Azeromettal (ArcelorMittal UAE): The world's largest steel company, Acelomital, has a joint venture in Abu Dhabi (cooperating with the Abu Dhabi Sovereign Fund), mainly produces high-end plates (such as automotive steel and household appliance steel). It has strict technical standards and is suitable for industrial customers with high quality requirements. Tata Steel UAE: Through cooperation with local companies, it provides hot-rolled coils, cold-rolled coils and other products, focusing on exporting to the Middle East and Africa markets, with strong price competitiveness.

4. UAE steel market demand is strong

Emsteel Group (‌Emirates Steel Arkan), the largest steel and building materials company in the United Arab Emirates, is in line with theThe steel market is optimistic in 2025. According to Arabian Gulf Business Insight, Emsteel Group CEO Said Gumran Al Remessi said steel demand is expected to grow by 10% in 2025 thanks to billions of dollars in infrastructure and real estate projects in the UAE.

The UAE is currently conducting several large-scale infrastructure projects with a total value of US$772 billion, which is expected to bring ongoing steel demand, with 52% of projects still in the planning, design or tendering stages.

These projects include the $35 billion expansion of Dubai Maktoum International Airport, the Dubai Metro extension and the newly announced Disney theme park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. According to Emsteel's chief commercial officer Michael Lyon, an airport project alone requires 2 million tons of steel bars, and the subway extension line also requires 350,000 tons. In 2024, UAE steel demand has surged by 20%, showing strong market momentum. Steel demand is expected to grow by 10% in 2025, to meet the surge in demand.Emirates Steel, a subsidiary of Emsteel, has increased its monthly output from 260,000 tons to 400,000 tons, an increase of more than 50%.

The UAE construction market is expected to maintain strong growth momentum. According to Mordor Intelligence statistics, it is expectedThe UAE construction market size will reach US$40.88 billion in 2024 and will surge to US$51.8 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate of about 4.9%.

The improvement of UAE residents' consumption level and the entry of many overseas automobile industries such as Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and BYD have brought new growth momentum to the automobile market.From January to September 2024, UAE automobile market sales increased significantly by 12.0% year-on-year, indicating that the demand for hot-rolled coil market will be further released.

5. UAE Steel Major importing countries-China

The UAE imported steel products from China are centered on construction steel (the proportion is more than70%), mainly including: rebar accounts for 40%-50% of export volume, and is mainly used in real estate and infrastructure projects (such as residential and bridges). Wires account for 20%-25%, and are used for steel bar processing and small components. Plates (hot-rolled coiled plates, galvanized plates): accounting for 15%-20%, used in steel structures in industrial factories and venues.

In recent years, as the UAE transforms into high-end manufacturing industries (such as aviation and new energy),​The export share of industrial steel (such as cold-rolled coil plates and stainless steel pipes) increased from 10% in 2014 to 25% in 2023, mainly supplied to Abu Dhabi Petroleum Corporation's refining and chemical projects and Dubai's high-end manufacturing industry.

China's steel exports to the Middle East increased significantly in 2024, especially the UAE. In 2024, China exported 5.48 million tons of steel to the UAE, an increase of 46.1% from 3.78 million tons in 2023. The export growth rate is the second largest steel exporter in the world among China's steel exporters, and the UAE is China's third largest steel exporter. From January to April 2025, China exported 1.958 million tons of steel to the UAE, an increase of 13% year-on-year. The UAE continued to maintain its strong demand for Chinese steel.

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EU terminates anti-dumping investigation on Seamless Pipes and Tubes of Iron or Steel from China

On June 2, 2025, the European Commission issued a notice stating that, in view of the applicant's withdrawal of the anti-dumping investigation application on seamless steel pipes originating in China on February 27, 2025, it has decided to terminate the anti-dumping investigation on the Chinese products involved. The EU CN (Combined Nomenclature) code for the product in question is ex 7304 19 10、ex 7304 19 30、ex 7304 23 00、ex 7304 29 10、ex 7304 29 30、ex 7304 31 20、ex 7304 31 80、ex 7304 39 50、ex 7304 39 82、ex 7304 39 83、ex 7304 51 89、ex 7304 59 82 And ex 7304 59 83 (TARIC codes are 7304191020, 7304193020, 7304230020, 7304291020, 7304293020, 7304312030, 7304318030, 7304395030, 7304395030, 7304398230, 7304518930, 7304598230, and 7304598320). The announcement shall take effect from the day after its publication.

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Carbon steel pipe, stainless steel pipe, alloy steel pipe: their respective advantages and applications

In the global industrial system, steel pipes, as "industrial blood vessels", undertake core functions such as transmission, support, and protection. Carbon steel pipes, stainless steel pipes and alloy steel pipes have formed completely different performance maps due to differences in composition and process. In the fields of automobile manufacturing, energy and chemical industry, aerospace, etc., the three have shown their strengths: carbon steel is the king for its cost-effectiveness, stainless steel is based on its corrosion resistance, and alloy steel breaks the deadlock with high strength. This article will take materials science as the anchor and combine the latest industry trends in 2025 to systematically analyze the performance boundaries and application logic of Class III steel pipes. 1. Carbon steel pipe: a classic balance between cost and strength

(1)、Component characteristics and core advantages

Basic composition: carbon content 0.06%-2.0% (common grades Q235, 20# steel), manganese and silicon elements adjust the strength. Cost Advantage: The raw material price is about 3,800-4,500 yuan/ton (data in April 2025), which is 1/3 of stainless steel and 1/5 of alloy steel. Processing friendly: The welding forming efficiency is 40% higher than that of stainless steel, and is suitable for mass production. （2）、Typical application scenarios Automotive field:Chassis structural parts: non-load-bearing beam (thickness 1.5-3mm), cold-rolled carbon steel (SPCC) is used to reduce weight by 10%. Fuel system: Ordinary oil pipeline (working pressure ≤5MPa), galvanized carbon steel (such as STKM12A) to prevent rust. Infrastructure field:Construction scaffolding (Φ48mm×3.5mm), yield strength ≥235MPa, single load bearing exceeds 1 ton.Urban gas medium and low pressure pipeline network (GB/T 3091 standard), annual demand exceeds 20 million tons. （3）、Breakthrough of limitations Anti-corrosion upgrade: The "zinc-aluminum-magnesium-coated carbon steel pipe" developed by Baosteel (corrosion resistance is increased by 3 times) has been used in coastal water pipeline networks. Lightweight innovation: Tesla Model 3 seat bracket uses laser welded carbon steel pipe, and the wall thickness has been reduced from 2mm to 1.2mm. 2. Stainless steel pipe: the technical depth of the corrosion resistance king

（1）Material classification and performance labeling

|Type | Representative grade | Chromium/nickel content | Temperature resistance limit | Corrosion resistance scenes ||Austenitic | 304/316L | 18%/10% | 800℃|Acid and alkali medium, marine environment ||Ferrite | 430/439 | 16%-18% | 600℃|Car exhaust and hot water system ||Duplex Steel | 2205 | 22%/5% | 300℃|High chloride ion environment (such as sea water)

（2）Irreversible application highland

New energy vehicles:Battery cooling pipeline: 316L stainless steel (resistant to electrolyte corrosion), inner wall Ra≤0.8μm reduces flow resistance. Hydrogen fuel storage tank: SUS444 ferrite stainless steel inner liner, anti-hydrogen embrittlement life exceeds 15 years. High-end manufacturing:Semiconductor clean room pipeline (EP grade electrolytic polishing), particle shedding amount <5 pieces/㎡.Supercritical boiler heat exchange tube (TP347H), withstand 650℃, 35MPa steam pressure. （3）Cost optimization path Nickel Reduction Technology: QN1803 stainless steel developed by TISCO (Nickel content reduced from 8% to 1.5%), a 20% reduction in cost. Composite pipe: outer layer of carbon steel + inner layer of 0.1mm stainless steel (composite ratio 1:9), saving 35% in comprehensive cost. 3. Alloy steel pipe: performance fortress under extreme working conditions

（1）Alloyization logic and enhancement effect

Chromium (Cr): Improves oxidation resistance (such as 15CrMo resistance 540℃ high temperature). Molybdenum (Mo): Strengthen high temperature strength (such as P91 steel used in ultrasupercritical units). Vanadium (V) + Niobium (Nb): Refined grains (API 5L X80 pipeline steel has 50% toughness). （2）Graphics of application in cutting-edge fields Aerospace:Rocket engine fuel tube (Inconel 718 alloy), withstands the temperature difference between liquid oxygen -196℃ and 3000℃ in the combustion chamber.Aircraft hydraulic system (30CrMnSiA), fatigue life exceeds 100,000 cycles. Automobile performance upgrade:Turbocharged exhaust manifold (4Cr25Ni35Nb), temperature resistant to 1050℃.Racing transmission shaft (30CrNiMo8), torsional strength up to 1200N·m.

（3）Breakthrough cases The NM400 wear-resistant alloy steel pipe developed by Ansteel has a lifespan of 8 times higher than that of ordinary carbon steel, accounting for 60% of the mining machinery market. Pangang V-Ti microalloyed oil drill pipe breaks the US Grant Prideco monopoly. 4. Selection and Decision Matrix: The Ultimate Showdown of Class Three Steel Pipes

（1）Performance parameter comparison

|Indicators | Carbon Steel Pipe | Stainless Steel Pipe | Alloy Steel Pipe ||Tensile strength | 400-600MPa | 520-800MPa | 800-2000MPa ||Corrosion resistance | Need for surface treatment | Excellent (self-passivation) | Medium (rely plating-dependent) ||High temperature resistance limit | 300℃| 800℃ (austenitic) | 1200℃ ||Weight ratio | 1.0 (benchmark) | 1.05 | 0.95-1.1

（2）Economic model

Full life cycle cost: Although the initial investment of stainless steel for chemical pipelines is 30% higher, the maintenance-free cycle is as long as 20 years. Premium technical scenario: The heat transfer pipe of the evaporator of the nuclear power plant must use Incoloy 800 alloy, with a unit price exceeding 500,000 yuan/ton. （3）Scenario Selection Guide Automobile exhaust system:Economy car: ferrite stainless steel (409L, cost 8,000 yuan/ton);Luxury car: Duplex stainless steel (2205, resistant to chloride ion corrosion) Deep-sea oil and gas pipeline:Shallow sea: X65 carbon steel + 3LPE anti-corrosion (comprehensive cost 12,000 yuan/ton); Ultra-deep water: bimetal composite tube (inner wall 625 alloy + outer layer X70). 5. Materials Revolution in the next ten years: Who will dominate the industry?

（1）Carbon steel pipe: New opportunities for green regeneration

Hydrogen metallurgy technology (such as HYBRIT) reduces carbon steel emissions by 95%, and Volvo has purchased "zero carbon steel pipes" for electric vehicle platforms. Bio-based coatings (such as chitosan) replace traditional galvanizing to achieve zero corrosion in the marine environment for 20 years. （2）Stainless steel pipe: functional upgrade wave Self-healing stainless steel (microcapsule corrosion inhibitor embedded in the matrix), the repair rate exceeds 90% 72 hours after scratching. TISCO is the world's first launch of 0.01mm ultra-thin stainless steel foil for flexible battery current collectors. （3）Alloy steel pipe: Extreme performance breakthrough again High-entropy alloy tube (more than 5 main elements): the neutron radiation resistance is increased by 10 times, making it the first choice for nuclear fusion devices. 4DPrint shape memory alloy tubes (such as NiTiNOL) to adapt to pressure fluctuations independently. 6. Conclusion   When choosing carbon steel, stainless steel or alloy steel, the essence is to find the optimal solution between cost, performance and scenario requirements. With the maturity of technologies such as material genome planning and quantum computing simulation, steel pipes will no longer be the solo dance of a single material in the future, but a "symphony" of cross-matter collaboration - perhaps in 2030, we will see disruptive products such as carbon steel-graphene composite tubes, stainless steel-ceramic self-lubricated tubes, and infinite possibilities to redefine the industrial boundaries.

From : https://www.sinosteel-pipe.com/en/blog-5604932851286553.html

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In the modern industrial field, steel pipes are widely used in various industries such as construction, machinery manufacturing, oil and gas, automotive manufacturing, chemical engineering, shipbuilding, energy, and more. Due to differences in production standards, testing methods, and quality requirements among different countries and regions, a series of authoritative international steel pipe standards have been established, such as ASTM (USA), DIN (Germany), JIS (Japan), GB (China), etc. These standards provide detailed requirements for the material, dimensions, performance, manufacturing processes, and quality inspection methods of steel pipes, ensuring product consistency and reliability.

This article will briefly analyze the characteristics, applicable scopes, and main contents of the four major standards: ASTM, DIN, JIS, and GB.

I. ASTM Standards (American Society for Testing and Materials)

​​1. Introduction to ASTM​​

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), established in 1898, is one of the most influential material testing and standard-setting organizations globally. ASTM standards cover a wide range of industries, including metals, plastics, petrochemicals, construction, and environmental sectors.

In the steel pipe industry, ASTM standards are the most authoritative technical specifications in both the U.S. domestic and international markets. They encompass various types of steel pipes for different applications, such as carbon steel pipes, stainless steel pipes, alloy steel pipes, high-pressure boiler pipes, structural pipes, and fluid pipes.

2. ​​Common ASTM Steel Pipe Standards​

3. ​​Characteristics of ASTM Standards​​

Uses inch (inch) and pound (lb) units, aligning with the U.S. market.

Strict quality inspection requirements, covering chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensional tolerances, and non-destructive testing (NDT).

Suitable for applications in extreme environments, such as high temperature, high pressure, and corrosion resistance.

II. DIN Standards (German Industrial Standards)

​​1. Introduction to DIN​​ The Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN), established in 1917, is the national standardization body of Germany. DIN standards have a broad influence in Europe and globally, particularly in fields such as machinery manufacturing, automotive industry, construction engineering, and steel industry.German industrial standards are known for their rigor, precision, and durability. DIN-standard steel pipes are widely used in automotive manufacturing, mechanical equipment, and pipeline engineering.

2. ​​Common DIN Steel Pipe Standards​

​​3. Characteristics of DIN Standards​​

Uses metric units (mm, kg), aligning with European market requirements.

Stringent quality requirements, with a focus on mechanical properties, dimensional accuracy, and chemical composition control.

Suitable for industries with high precision requirements, such as automotive manufacturing, precision machinery, and boiler pipelines.

III. JIS Standards (Japanese Industrial Standards)

1. ​​Introduction to JIS​​ The Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), developed by the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC), are the national standard system of Japan. JIS standards have a profound impact in the Asian market and are widely used in construction, automotive, shipbuilding, and petrochemical industries.

2. Common JIS Steel Pipe Standards​

3. Characteristics of JIS Standards

​​ Uses metric units, suitable for the Asian market.High-quality standards, emphasizing welding performance, corrosion resistance, and dimensional accuracy.Suitable for industries such as high-temperature boilers, structural engineering, and shipbuilding.

IV. GB Standards (Chinese National Standards)

​​1. Introduction to GB​​ GB (Guobiao Standards) are the national standards of China, issued by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC). GB standards are widely applicable to domestic markets in construction, energy, machinery, chemical engineering, and other industries. In recent years, they have gradually aligned with international standards.

2. ​​Common GB Steel Pipe Standards

3. ​​​Characteristics of GB Standards​

Suitable for the Chinese market, covering industries such as construction, energy, and transportation.

Quality requirements align with international standards, meeting the needs of Chinese engineering projects.

Summary

The four major standards—ASTM, DIN, JIS, and GB—dominate the global steel pipe industry, each catering to different markets and application environments. In international trade, correctly understanding and selecting the appropriate standard is crucial to improving project quality, reducing costs, and enhancing market competitiveness.

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After China and the United States implemented a series of tariff adjustment measures, American importers began to significantly increase their import orders from China.

Surge in container pre - bookings

On May 14, Eastern Time in the United States, Ben Tracy, the vice president of strategic business development at Vizion, a software provider for container tracking data, said that after the "truce" in trade between China and the United States was reached, the booking volume for container transportation from China to the United States soared by nearly 300%.

Tracy revealed that within seven days up to Wednesday of this week, the average booking volume for container transportation from China to the United States soared 277% to 21,530 twenty - foot equivalent units (TEUs), while the seven - day average booking volume as of last Monday (May 5) was 5,709 TEUs.

Tracy said, "Since this temporary truce emerged, the booking volume has started to pick up."

Surge in shipping pre - bookings

Hapag - Lloyd, a German container shipping company, said that in the first three days of this week, the booking volume on its US - China routes increased by 50% compared with the previous week.

Rolf Habben Jansen, the CEO of Hapag - Lloyd, said, "We expect a surge in the volume of transactions between China and the United States, which is also what we have already witnessed in the past few days."

On May 13, Eastern Time in the United States, Ryan Petersen, the founder and CEO of Flexport, a freight company, posted that "on the first day since the trade agreement was reached, our ocean shipping bookings from China to the United States increased by 35%."

Paul Brashier, the vice president of global supply chain at ITS Logistics, a logistics company, said, "My clients have pre - loaded thousands of containers in China, ready to be shipped in."

He predicted that the number of container shipments will further surge in the next four to six weeks.

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Chinese shipbuilders have secured nearly 70% of the global new - ship orders

Despite the threat of tariffs from the US government, Chinese shipbuilders still demonstrate strong market resilience and competitiveness. After being briefly overtaken by South Korea in March, Chinese shipbuilders successfully secured nearly 70% of the global new - ship orders in April and once again topped the global order - taking list.

In April this year, the global transaction volume of new - ship orders was 75 ships with a total of 3.64 million compensated gross tons (CGT). In terms of CGT, it decreased by 56% compared with 8.36 million CGT in the same period last year and increased by 82% month - on - month from 2 million CGT in March this year. Among them, Chinese shipbuilders received 51 ships with 2.51 million CGT of new - ship orders, accounting for 69% of the global market share and ranking first; South Korean shipbuilders received 15 ships with 620,000 CGT of orders, accounting for 17% of the global market share and ranking second.

From January to April this year, the cumulative global transaction volume of new - ship orders was 372 ships with a total of 12.59 million CGT, a decrease of 50% compared with 1,056 ships and 25.04 million CGT in the first quarter of last year. Among them, Chinese shipbuilders received 215 ships with 6.82 million CGT of orders, with a market share of 59%, ranking first in the world; South Korean shipbuilders received 57 ships with 2.8 million CGT of orders, with a market share of 22%, ranking second.

In April this year, the price of new - built ships slightly declined but still remained at a high level. The Clarksons Newbuilding Price Index was 187.11 points, a slight decrease from 187.43 points in March, but about 1.7% higher than 183.92 points in the same period last year. In terms of ship types, the price of a 174,000 - cubic - meter large - scale LNG carrier is 255million;thepriceofaverylargecrudecarrier(VLCC)is125 million; the price of a 22,000 - 24,000 TEU very large container ship is $273.5 million.

More info : https://www.sinosteel-pipe.com/en/blog-5599279277650786.html

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China's steel imports and exports from January to April

1、In April

(1) The import of steel was 522,000 tons, an increase of 21,000 tons or 4.2% compared with the previous month. The average price was 1,690.0 US dollars per ton, a decrease of 8 US dollars per ton or 0.5% compared with the previous month. (2) The import of iron ore was 103,138,000 tons, an increase of 9,164,000 tons or 9.8% compared with the previous month. The average price was 98.1 US dollars per ton, a decrease of 0.4 US dollars per ton or 0.4% compared with the previous month. (3) The export of steel was 10,462,000 tons, an increase of 6,000 tons or 0.06% compared with the previous month. It increased by 574,400 tons or 5.8% compared with the same period last year. The average price was 694.4 US dollars per ton, an increase of 0.9 US dollars per ton or 0.1% compared with the previous month.

2、From January to April

(1) The cumulative import of steel from January to April was 2,072,000 tons, a decrease of 333,000 tons or 13.8% compared with the same period last year. (2) The cumulative import of iron ore from January to April was 38,836,000 tons, a decrease of 2,273,200 tons or 5.5% compared with the same period last year. (3) The cumulative export of steel from January to April was 37,891,000 tons, an increase of 2,865,000 tons or 8.2% compared with the same period last year.

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The European Union has announced a plan to end the import of Russian energy, with 2027 set as the deadline

On May 6, Dan Jørgensen, the head of the European Union's energy affairs, announced a plan to end the EU's import of Russian energy at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

According to the plan, the EU has set 2027 as the deadline. By then, all 27 member states (from landlocked countries to coastal countries) must gradually stop purchasing the remaining Russian energy, especially liquefied natural gas transported by tankers.

The plan will be implemented gradually. First, by the end of 2025, the signing of new short-term contracts will be prohibited. In the second phase, by the end of 2027, long-term contracts accounting for two-thirds of Russian natural gas supplies will be terminated. In addition, further restrictive measures will be implemented to crack down on the "shadow fleet" that secretly transports Russian oil, and the import of Russian uranium and other nuclear materials will be stopped. Moreover, each member state will be required to draft a national plan detailing how they intend to remove Russian natural gas, nuclear energy, and oil from their energy mix.

According to reports from Euronews, last year, the EU purchased 31.62 billion cubic meters of Russian pipeline natural gas and 20.05 billion cubic meters of Russian liquefied natural gas, accounting for 19% of its total natural gas consumption.

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The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) of the global manufacturing sector in April 2025 was 49.1%, down 0.5 percentage points from March. It has declined month-on-month for two consecutive months and has been below 50% for two consecutive months.

The global manufacturing sector remains weak, reflecting the pressure on the global economy. The latest "World Economic Outlook" report released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its forecast for global economic growth in 2025 to 2.8%, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points from the January forecast this year.

Regionally, in April, the PMI of the Asian manufacturing sector was 50%, down 1.3 percentage points from March; the African manufacturing sector has returned to the contraction range.

The growth rate of the Asian manufacturing sector has slowed compared with March and dropped to the boom-or-bust line level. Faced with the uncertainty of the external environment, Asian developing countries should make full use of the advantages of the domestic market demand and continue to firmly promote industrial upgrading, economic structure optimization and technological innovation to resist the negative impacts brought by the uncertainty of the external environment. At the same time, Asian countries should continue to promote the integrated development of the Asian economy. By strengthening cooperation, they can deepen the integrated development of industrial chains and supply chains, enhance the resilience of regional development in Asia, and thus cope with the shocks of global uncertain risks.

The stability of the African manufacturing sector remains weak, and the fluctuations are relatively obvious. The uncertainty of the external environment will have a negative impact on the upgrading of African industrial and supply chains. At the same time, it also forces African countries to actively promote intra-African trade and investment through the "African Continental Free Trade Agreement" to enhance Africa's risk resistance in global trade frictions. In addition, strengthening the diversified layout of the foreign trade pattern has also become the primary option for African countries to avoid external risks.

The manufacturing sectors in Europe and the Americas still show a contractionary trend. In April, the PMI of the European manufacturing sector was 48.4%, up 0.2 percentage points from March, slightly above 48% for two consecutive months; the PMI of the American manufacturing sector was 48.4%, down 0.5 percentage points from March, below 49% for two consecutive months and declining month-on-month for three consecutive months, indicating that the American manufacturing sector continues to be in the contraction range.

The European manufacturing sector is still in a contractionary state at present. The European Central Bank also believes that the downside risks to the euro area economy have increased significantly. Recent data released by the European Union shows that core inflation data has risen, bringing new uncertainties to the European Central Bank's subsequent monetary policy decisions.

Goldman Sachs and UBS and other institutions all believe that the risk of a recession in the United States in 2025 has increased. At the same time, the market's concerns about the inflationary pressures brought by the uncertainty of the external environment have also increased.

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China-EU trade continued to grow in the first quarter of 2025.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. From an initial trade volume of 2.4 billion($) to the current 780 billion($), China-EU bilateral trade has been continuously developing in a positive direction. According to customs statistics, in the first quarter of this year, China's import and export with the EU amounted to 1.3 trillion (RMB), a year-on-year increase of 1.4%, which means that there is more than 10 million (RMB) worth of trade exchanges every minute.

In the consumer goods sector, in the first quarter, 72% of the bags imported by China, 51.7% of the passenger cars, and 42.2% of the cosmetics came from the EU. China's exports of electronic appliances, clothing and clothing accessories, and daily chemical products to the EU increased by 7.7%, 3%, and 16.1% year-on-year respectively.

In the high-tech field, in the first quarter, China imported high-end equipment worth 64 billion yuan from the EU, a year-on-year increase of 30.4%, accounting for 32.9% of the total import value of similar products in China. China's exports of industrial robots and high-end machine tools to the EU increased by 81.9% and 11.7% respectively.

In the agricultural sector, in the first quarter, China's imports of beer and pork from the EU increased by 25.7% and 17.5% year-on-year respectively. China's exports of aquatic products and dried and fresh fruits to the EU increased by 34.4% and 10.8% respectively.

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In recent years, the Indian steel industry has continued to show a strong growth momentum and has become a remarkable highlight in the global economy. The types of Indian steel products are rich, covering a complete production line from raw materials to finished products, including galvanized steel plates, seamless pipes, high - speed steels, stainless steels, and cold - rolled plates. These products are widely used in many fields such as the construction industry, machinery manufacturing, the automotive industry, the aerospace industry, and the crude oil and natural gas industry. This diversification and comprehensiveness of the Indian steel industry provide strong support for its competitiveness in the global market.

I. India's Steel Production Capacity

India's crude steel output has ranked second in the world for many consecutive years. In 2018, India's crude steel output reached 109.3 million tons, surpassing Japan (104.3 million tons) for the first time and becoming the world's second - largest crude steel producer. It has maintained this position for six consecutive years. According to data from the World Steel Association, in 2023, India's crude steel output reached 141 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 12.3%, accounting for 7% of the world's crude steel output. In 2024, the output reached 145 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 3.6%. It is expected that the production capacity will reach 205 million tons in 2025, and the goal is to break through 300 million tons of production capacity by 2030.

II. The Main Distribution of India's Steel

The core areas of India's steel industry are divided into:

​​Eastern Region (Odisha, West Bengal)​​: Rich in iron ore resources. Enterprises such as Tata Steel and SAIL are gathered here, accounting for more than 40% of the national production capacity.

​​Western Region (Maharashtra, Gujarat)​​: With significant port advantages. Coastal steel mills such as JSW and AMNS are concentrated here, focusing on export - oriented production.

​​Southern Region (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh)​​: An emerging steel corridor. New projects of JSW and AMNS have driven the growth of regional production capacity.

The main steel mills are as follows:

Tata Steel: Its annual production capacity exceeds 34 million tons. It focuses on the layout in Odisha. The second - phase expansion of the Kalinganagar steel mill has increased its capacity to 8 million tons per year, with a long - term target of 13 million tons.

JSW Steel: Its production capacity has been expanded to 15 million tons per year. Its main production areas are located in Maharashtra (Dolvi steel mill) and Karnataka (Vijayanagar steel mill).

AMNS India: It plans to invest $16.6 billion to build a steel mill with an annual production capacity of 17.8 million tons in Andhra Pradesh, which will be implemented in two phases.

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL): As a state - owned leading enterprise, its annual production capacity is 17 million tons, and its factories are concentrated in the eastern region (such as Bhilai, Bokaro, etc.).

III. Situation of Iron Ore Raw Materials in India

1. Iron Ore Supply Pattern

According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), although in terms of the proven reserves of mineral resources, India ranks sixth in the world in terms of the total proven reserves of iron ore, coming after Australia, Brazil, Russia, China, and Canada. However, in terms of production, during the fiscal year 2023 - 24, the iron ore output reached a record high of 274 million tons. In the fiscal year 2024 - 25 (from April to January), the iron ore output further increased to 236 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 3.5% compared with 228 million tons in the same period last year. This growth rate shows India's steady growth trend in global mineral production, especially against the backdrop of the increasing demand in the steel industry, where the production of iron ore maintains strong momentum.

2. Current Situation of Iron Ore Production in India

The sources of iron ore production in India are mainly concentrated in the top four provinces. Odisha province has the highest output, with a total output of 110 million tons in the fiscal year 2023, accounting for more than half of the national output. Ranked second is Chhattisgarh province, with an output of 36.98 million tons, accounting for about 18% of the national output. The third is Karnataka province, with an output of 34.54 million tons, accounting for about 17% of the national output. The total output of the top four provinces (Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Jharkhand) accounts for about 96% of the national total.

In terms of mine ownership and scale characteristics, there were a total of 273 operating mines in India in the fiscal year 2023, of which 41 were state - owned and 232 were private. Although there are more private mines, their average scale is relatively small. Moreover, whether private or state - owned, large - scale mines (with an annual output of more than 1 million tons) remain the main source of production in India, accounting for more than 80% of the national total. Looking at the specific data, among state - owned mines, there are 19 mines with an annual output of more than 1 million tons; among private mines, there are 34 mines with an annual output of more than 1 million tons. The annual output of these 53 large - scale mines accounts for 88.68% of the total. In addition, the annual output of iron mines owned by steel mills is 83.01 million tons, accounting for 40.60%; the annual output of other independent mines is 121 million tons, accounting for 59.40%.

The top domestic enterprises in India account for more than half of the country's main output. According to the latest data from SteelMint, there were five enterprises in India with an iron ore output of more than 20 million tons in the fiscal year 2023, and the total output of these five enterprises accounted for about 65% of India's national output. Moreover, some relatively large - scale mines are similar to Chinese mines and are also owned by steel mills, and their output is mainly consumed by the group's own steel mills.

3. Major Iron Ore Miners in India

National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NMDC) is the largest iron ore producer in India. Its iron ore is mainly mined from the large - scale Bailadila integrated mining area in Chhattisgarh province and the large - scale Donimalai mining area in Karnataka province. In terms of production proportion, NMDC produced 30.77 million tons in the natural year 2021, accounting for 16.3% of India's national output (data from the World Steel Association). NMDC plans to increase its annual iron ore output from 45 million tons in the fiscal year 2024 to 67 million tons in the fiscal year 2025, and finally achieve a production target of 100 million tons by 2030. This increase in production is expected to increase its market share in India's iron ore market from 20% to 25%.

IV. Key Investments in India's Steel Industry

1. Significant Increase in JSW Steel's Production Capacity

In 2024, JSW Steel, a subsidiary of India's JSW Group, witnessed a remarkable expansion of its production capacity. In March, the company commissioned a hot - rolled strip mill with an annual production capacity of 5 million tons, injecting new vitality into the market. In April, the first continuous casting machine was successfully put into operation, with an annual production capacity of 2.5 million tons, further enhancing JSW's production capabilities. By the end of May, JSW launched the third - phase capacity expansion plan at its Dolvi steel plant in Maharashtra, aiming to increase the existing crude steel production capacity from 10 million tons per year to 15 million tons per year. This move will undoubtedly significantly boost the company's overall production capacity. At the end of July, JSW commissioned a converter at its Vijayanagar steel plant in Karnataka and planned to start a sintering plant simultaneously to meet the ever - growing market demand.

JSW Steel has been continuously expanding, building new steel plants, starting new blast furnaces, and acquiring new iron mines. The company announced a series of important developments. To further enhance its production capacity, JSW decided to build a new steel plant in Odisha and start a new blast furnace. In addition, to ensure the supply of raw materials, JSW also plans to acquire new iron mines in the region. This series of measures demonstrates JSW's firm steps in continuously expanding its scale and optimizing its industrial chain.

In September 2024, JSW Steel commissioned a new blast furnace with an annual production capacity of up to 5 million tons at its Vijayanagar steel plant in Karnataka to increase the plant's production capacity.

In October 2024, JSW collaborated with South Korea's POSCO Group to jointly plan the establishment of a joint - venture steel plant in India. It is expected that this project will have an annual production capacity of 5 million tons in the initial stage. To ensure the supply of raw materials for blast furnace ironmaking, JSW actively participated in the government's public auction in November and successfully won the Codli iron mine in Goa at a premium rate of 62.6%. The iron mine covers an area of about 377 hectares and has resource reserves of about 48.49 million tons. It mainly produces medium - grade iron fines and lump ore, with iron grades of about 57.86% and 56.24% respectively.

As an important member of the JSW Group in India, JSW Steel is not only one of the largest steel companies in India but also occupies a place in the global steel industry. Its steelmaking production capacity (covering both Indian and overseas businesses) in the fiscal year 2023/24 reached 29.7 million tons, and it plans to continue expanding its scale in the coming years. By the fiscal year 2024/25, the production capacity is expected to increase to 38.2 million tons, and by the fiscal year 2030/31, it is even expected to reach 51.5 million tons. These measures will undoubtedly help JSW achieve its ambitious goal of production capacity growth.

India's Godawari Power and Ispat (GPIL) has obtained permission from the Chhattisgarh government to expand the iron ore pellet plant in Raipur, increasing the production capacity from 2.7 million tons per year to 4.7 million tons per year. This expansion project is expected to officially start in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2026.

2. Blast Furnace Ignition at Tata Steel's Kalinganagar Steel Plant

Tata Steel's steel plant in Kalinganagar has reached an important milestone - its blast furnace was successfully ignited and put into production. This event marks that the steel plant has officially entered a new stage of production, and it is expected to further increase the company's production capacity. On September 21, 2024, India's Tata Steel's steel plant in Kalinganagar witnessed another major milestone - its No. 2 blast furnace was successfully ignited and put into production. This blast furnace has a volume of 5,873 cubic meters and is designed to produce 4.375 million tons of hot metal per year. This move not only demonstrates the steel plant's firm determination in increasing production capacity but also marks the substantial progress of its expansion project.

The second - phase expansion project of Tata Steel's Kalinganagar steel plant is progressing steadily. On November 19, 2024, Tata Steel officially launched the second - phase capacity expansion plan at its Kalinganagar steel plant in Odisha. The plan aims to increase the annual production capacity of the steel plant from 3 million tons to 8 million tons. At present, this second - phase expansion project is nearing completion and is expected to be officially put into operation in 2025. Looking ahead, Tata Steel also plans to carry out the third - phase development of this plant area to further increase its production capacity to 13 million tons per year.

The total investment in this expansion project is as high as 270 billion rupees (about 3.24 billion US dollars). Statistical data shows that in the past decade, Tata Steel's cumulative investment in the Kalinganagar steel plant has exceeded 1 trillion rupees. In addition, the second - phase expansion project will also cover the construction of key facilities such as pellet plants, coke ovens, and cold - rolling mills.

At present, the Kalinganagar steel plant already has a complete set of production facilities, including a sintering plant with an annual output of 5.75 million tons, a coking plant with an annual output of 1.65 million tons, a blast furnace for ironmaking with an annual output of 3.3 million tons, a converter steelmaking workshop with an annual output of 3 million tons, and a hot - rolled strip mill with an annual output of 3.5 million tons.

3. RINL Restarts No. 3 Blast Furnace

India's Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) reached a cooperation with Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL), a steel and power company, and planned to restart its No. 3 blast furnace. This restart is expected to increase the annual production of hot metal by 2 million tons. It is worth mentioning that this blast furnace was suspended from production in January 2021 due to the rising cost of coking coal. According to the agreement, JSPL will provide about 8 - 9 billion rupees (equivalent to 690 - 770 million yuan) of pre - paid operating funds and ensure the continuous supply of raw materials required by No. 3 blast furnace to support its restart and long - term operation.

4. AMNS Plans to Build a New Steel Plant

India's mining company AMNS, located in Andhra Pradesh, announced a major plan: to build a steel plant with an annual production capacity of [missing data] million tons in the region. This move aims to respond to the Indian government's grand blueprint for the development of the steel industry and further promote the increase of domestic crude steel production capacity.

5. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Plans to Build an Integrated Steel Plant

ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AMNS) India plans to invest 1.4 trillion Indian rupees (about 16.6 billion US dollars) in Andhra Pradesh to build an integrated steel plant with an annual production capacity of 17.8 million tons. This project will be implemented in two phases. First, AMNS will invest 800 billion rupees to build a blast furnace with an annual production capacity of 7.3 million tons. At present, the company has started looking for suitable construction land. Subsequently, in the second phase, AMNS plans to invest another 600 billion rupees to further increase the steel plant's production capacity to 17.8 million tons. It is expected that the construction of this project will start in early 2025. In 2019, ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel jointly completed the acquisition of Essar Steel's Hazira steel plant in India and renamed it ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AMNS). AMNS released its second - quarter performance report in 2024, which revealed the company's ambitious plan to increase its annual production capacity to more than 40 million tons. And the planning and construction of an integrated steel plant with an annual production capacity of 17.8 million tons will undoubtedly inject strong impetus into AMNS to achieve this production capacity growth target.

6. JSPL Plans to Increase Angul Steel Plant's Capacity to 12 Million Tons per Year

JSPL Steel announced that it plans to expand its Angul steel plant in Odisha. It is expected that next year, the annual production capacity of this steel plant will be increased from the current 6 million tons to 12 million tons. Moreover, the company also looks forward to further increasing the production capacity to 25 million tons per year within the next six years. This series of expansion plans demonstrates JSPL's firm determination in increasing production capacity and optimizing the production layout.

7. LME's Capacity Expansion Plan

Lloyd Metal and Energy (LME) has formulated an ambitious capacity expansion plan. They plan to add a direct - reduced iron production equipment with an annual output of 360,000 tons at the Ghugus plant in the Chandrapur area and build two new 30 - megawatt power plants, with the related construction starting in March 2025. In addition, LME plans to build a pellet plant with an annual production capacity of 4 million tons at the Kondsari plant in the Kaddicherla area. This plant is scheduled to be put into operation in March 2025, and the second pellet plant is expected to be put into operation in June 2026. Between September 2028 and March 2029, the company will also put into operation an integrated steel plant equipped with two blast furnaces (with a total annual production capacity of 3 million tons), a converter with an annual production capacity of 3 million tons, and coating equipment required for the production of galvanized hot - rolled coils and cold - rolled coils.

V. Key Factors Driving the Development of India's Steel Industry

The rapid development of India's steel industry is due to the combined effect of multiple driving factors.

The strong promotion and policy support of the Indian government are indispensable. The Indian government has announced an infrastructure construction plan with an investment of $534 billion in the next two years, which will be used for building roads, railways, ports, and upgrading power and water facilities. This move will have a positive demand - pulling effect on the steel industry and further boost the demand for steel.

The rapid economic growth of India provides a broad market space for the steel industry. The Indian economy has continued to show a strong growth momentum. The recovery of urban and rural demand, the increase in government consumption, the continuous growth of private investment, and the expansion of service industry exports all provide solid support for the steel industry. This healthy economic growth environment enables the steel industry to develop rapidly and meet the ever - increasing market demand.

Technological innovation and sustainable development in India's steel industry are also important factors driving its development. Indian steel enterprises are continuously increasing their research and development investment to improve production efficiency, reduce energy consumption and emissions, and achieve a more environmentally friendly and sustainable production mode. At the same time, the Indian steel industry is also actively promoting digital transformation and intelligent upgrading, and using advanced technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence to enhance industrial competitiveness.

VI. Challenges Faced by India's Steel Industry

Despite the remarkable achievements of India's steel industry, it still faces some challenges.

Import restriction policies have had a certain impact on the operation of small and medium - sized enterprises. The steel import restriction policies implemented by the Indian government are originally intended to support domestic production, but inadvertently caused many small enterprises to fall into difficulties. These policies make it difficult for small enterprises to bear the cost of raw materials, and thus it is difficult for them to gain a foothold in the highly competitive market. In addition, the cumbersome customs clearance process and quality control regulations have also increased the complexity of the import process, causing major disruptions to the supply chain.

The pressure of environmental protection and sustainable development is increasing. As the global emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development continues to increase, India's steel industry is also facing stricter environmental regulations and standards. This requires steel enterprises to increase their investment in environmental protection, improve resource utilization efficiency, and reduce pollutant emissions to achieve a greener and more sustainable production mode.

International trade barriers and trade frictions also pose certain challenges to India's steel industry. In recent years, India has launched anti - dumping and safeguard measure investigations on steel products from some countries. This may lead to a subsequent decline in India's import demand from these countries. Such trade barriers not only limit the import channels of India's steel industry but may also affect its competitiveness in the domestic market.

VII. Future Development Trends of the Indian Steel Industry

Looking ahead, the Indian steel industry will continue to maintain a strong growth momentum.

With the continuous growth of the Indian economy and the continuous advancement of infrastructure construction, the demand for steel will be further released. According to the National Steel Policy 2017 (NSP - 2017), India plans to achieve a crude steel production capacity of 300 million tons by the fiscal year 2030/31, and has clearly put forward phased goals for gradually increasing production capacity. The increase in production capacity is calculated every five years: In the first phase (April 2016 - March 2021), the crude steel production capacity increased by 25 million tons; in the second phase (April 2021 - March 2026), it increased by 89 million tons; in the third phase (April 2026 - March 2031), it increased by 64 million tons. In addition, the policy also proposes to increase the scrap ratio and promote a reasonable layout of the blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace (BOF) process and the electric arc furnace (EAF) process. By the fiscal year 2030/31, the scrap ratio will be increased to 15%, the crude steel production capacity of the blast furnace/BOF process will account for 60% - 65%, and that of the EAF process will account for 35% - 40%. This has laid a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the steel industry. The World Steel Association predicted in its Short - Range Outlook (SRO) released in October 2024 that the demand for steel in India will grow by 8.0% in 2024 and 2025, thanks to the continuous growth of all steel - using industries, especially the continuous strong growth of infrastructure investment. Large - scale infrastructure projects promoted by the government, such as "Smart Cities" and "Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana" (Affordable Housing Scheme), have promoted the construction of infrastructure such as residential buildings, roads, and railways, and driven the growth of steel demand in the construction industry. In addition, as the Indian middle class is gradually expanding and the economic level is continuously improving, the development prospect of the Indian automobile industry is optimistic. To a certain extent, this has pushed up the demand for steel in the automobile industry. At the same time, it has also promoted the continuous growth of the demand for large - scale housing and high - end brand developers, especially in the field of high - end housing, where the supply increased by 24% in 2024. In the short term, the demand in the construction industry is expected to be further released. Benefiting from the booming economy, the growth rate of the apparent consumption of steel in India is also rapid. Except for the impact of the COVID - 19 pandemic in 2020, in the past 10 years, the apparent consumption of the steel market in India has been increasing, from 87.086 million tons in 2014 to 141 million tons in 2023. The per - capita crude steel consumption is also increasing, from about 67 kilograms per person in 2014 to nearly 99 kilograms per person in 2023. In 2023, the global per - capita apparent consumption of crude steel was 236 kilograms, and there is still a large growth space for India's crude steel consumption.

Secondly, technological innovation and digital transformation will become important driving forces for the development of the Indian steel industry. Steel enterprises will continuously increase their research and development investment, use advanced technologies and intelligent means to improve production efficiency, reduce costs, and improve product quality and competitiveness. At the same time, the steel industry will also actively promote green and low - carbon development to achieve a more environmentally friendly and sustainable production mode. As the scale of the Indian steel industry continues to expand, green and low - carbon development has become a focus of the industry. The Indian government has also set a clear direction for emission reduction targets, planning to reduce the total carbon emissions by 30% - 35% compared with 2005 by 2030. To promote this goal, the Indian steel industry is actively taking green development measures. The "Green Steel" guidelines released in 2024 provide a framework for the green development of the industry, especially for the star - rating classification of the environmental friendliness of steel products. With the increasing demand for green products in both domestic and international markets, the Indian steel industry will make more breakthroughs in environmental protection and sustainability.

The Indian steel industry will also actively expand the international market. With the recovery of the global economy and the improvement of the trade environment, Indian steel enterprises will actively seek international cooperation and investment opportunities to expand their market share and improve their international competitiveness. At the same time, the Indian steel industry will also strengthen cooperation and exchanges with international steel organizations and standard - setting institutions to promote the formulation and improvement of international trade rules.

VIII. Conclusion

In conclusion, the Indian steel industry has achieved remarkable results in recent years, but it still faces some challenges. In the future, with the continuous growth of the Indian economy, the continuous advancement of infrastructure construction, and the promotion of technological innovation and digital transformation, the Indian steel industry will continue to maintain a strong growth momentum and is expected to occupy a more important position in the global steel market.

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In the global stainless steel industry landscape, Indonesia is emerging as an important force in the industry's development, leveraging its unique advantages. The development of its stainless steel industry not only affects the domestic economic trend but also has a profound impact on the supply-demand balance and competitive landscape of the global stainless steel market.

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In the past, Indonesia's steel output was far lower than its steel demand, so a large amount of its steel demand had to be met through imports. However, in recent years, with the commissioning of new production capacity, Indonesia's steel output has been steadily increasing.

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Analysis of China's Seamless Steel Pipe Exports under US Tariffs

An Overview of the US Tariff Incidents

On April 8, Eastern Time, the United States announced that it would impose an additional 50% tariff on relevant Chinese products on top of the so-called "reciprocal tariff" measures. Previously, the United States had already imposed a series of tariffs on Chinese goods. On April 2, the United States announced that it would impose a 34% tariff on all Chinese goods on the grounds of "correcting the trade imbalance". As China did not withdraw its countermeasures, on April 7, an additional 50% tariff was imposed, and after coming into effect on April 9, the cumulative tariff rate reached 104%. In February and March 2025, the United States imposed an additional 20% tariff on the grounds of the "fentanyl crisis". The White House revealed on April 10 that as Trump raised the tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, the cumulative tariff rate imposed by the United States on Chinese goods had reached as high as 145%, setting a record high for US tariffs on foreign goods. This article will analyze the impact of the US tariff hikes on China's seamless pipe exports.

I. Summary of Anti-dumping Incidents Against Chinese Seamless Pipes from 2024 to 2025

​​Anti-dumping Investigation by the EU Against Chinese Seamless Steel Pipes​​: On May 17, 2024, the European Commission, at the request of the European Steel Pipe Association, launched an anti-dumping investigation into seamless steel pipes originating in China.

​​Sunset Review Investigation by Brazil Against Chinese Seamless Steel Pipes​​: On August 29, 2024, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation issued a notice in the Official Gazette. At the request of Vallourec Brazil, it initiated a sunset review investigation into imports of seamless steel pipes from China.

​​Extension of Anti-dumping Measures by the Eurasian Economic Union Against Chinese Seamless Steel Pipes​​: On September 25, 2024, the Eurasian Economic Commission initiated the first sunset review investigation into the case. On December 20, 2024, it decided to extend the current 15.50% anti-dumping duty until September 24, 2025.

​​Final Ruling of the Second Sunset Review of Anti-dumping by Mexico Against Chinese Seamless Steel Pipes​​: On February 12, 2025, the Mexican Ministry of Economy issued a notice, making the final ruling of the second sunset review of anti-dumping. It continued to levy an anti-dumping duty of US$1,568.92 per metric ton on the products involved. The measure came into effect on January 8, 2024 and is valid for five years.

II. Analysis of China's Seamless Pipe Export Situation

Based on country-specific statistical data, the countries to which China exports seamless pipes rank in the following order: the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Oman, India, Turkey, Thailand, South Korea, Nigeria, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. From January to February 2025, China's exports to the United Arab Emirates increased by 73.09% year-on-year; exports to Indonesia decreased by 17.3% year-on-year; exports to Oman increased by 13.72% year-on-year; exports to India increased by 32.4% year-on-year; exports to Turkey decreased by 12.43% year-on-year. These data show that most of these countries are located in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Among them, the Middle East, with its rich oil and gas resources, has a strong demand for seamless pipes in the fields of oil and gas extraction and transportation; Southeast Asian countries, due to the rapid advancement of infrastructure construction, have a continuously increasing demand for seamless pipes. From January to February 2025, China's exports of seamless pipes continued to rise.

In 2024, China exported 5.6968 million tons of seamless pipes, of which 106,500 tons were exported to the United States, accounting for 1.87%. Judging from the data of the past two years, in 2023, China exported 5.6645 million tons of seamless pipes, of which 123,400 tons were exported to the United States, accounting for 2.1% of the total export volume that year. Both the export volume and the proportion in 2024 have decreased. However, China has been actively constructing a diversified export pattern and expanding the export trade market. Some products are transshipped to the United States via third-party countries. With the implementation of the US policy of covering tariffs across the board, this indirect trade route will face stricter rule reviews and cost pressures. It is expected that the sustainability of the transshipment trade model will be significantly challenged, and the export volume of seamless pipes will decline. In addition, the drop in crude oil prices has directly led to a sharp decline in the demand for oil well pipes, and the market demand for seamless pipes will also decrease accordingly.

In 2024, China's steel exports to Vietnam continued to maintain a leading position. Vietnam's total imports of steel from China reached 12.6 million tons. Among them, Vietnam imported 175,800 tons of seamless pipes from China in 2024, accounting for 1.41% of the total. China's direct steel exports to the United States are relatively small, with only 500,000 tons exported to the United States in the whole year of 2024. However, China has a relatively large amount of transshipped exports through Southeast Asia. Vietnam is also one of the largest steel suppliers to the United States. In 2024, Vietnam also increased its imports of steel products from China. The incremental part can be regarded as the volume of transshipment trade. However, the "reciprocal tariff" policy implemented by the Trump administration in April 2025 has made Southeast Asia a frontline in the Sino-US trade game. With the implementation of the US tariff policy against China, even if Chinese seamless pipes enter the United States through transshipment trade, they will have to pay higher tariffs. In other industries in Vietnam, for example, 80% of the fabric for the clothing industry and 70% of the components for the electronics industry rely on imports from China. This "Chinese raw materials + Vietnamese assembly + US sales" triangular model allows the United States to put Vietnam in a dilemma by simply waving the tariff stick.

As can be seen from the above figure, the export situation of seamless pipes in China from 2015 to 2024 is as follows. From 2015 to 2017, the export volume of seamless pipes in China generally showed a downward trend. In 2015, the export volume of seamless steel pipes was 4.55 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 14.4%. From 2018 to 2019, the export volume began to rebound. In 2018, the export volume of seamless steel pipes in China was 4.16 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 1.60%; in 2019, the export volume was 4.3504 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 4.48%. Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the global economy was hit, and the export of seamless pipes in China showed a sharp downward trend. From 2021 to 2022, the export of seamless pipes in China witnessed rapid growth. The export volume increased in 2021. In 2022, the cumulative export volume of seamless steel pipes for the whole year reached 4.9 million tons, an increase of 1.5 million tons compared with 2021, a year-on-year increase of 44.28%, and the export volume hit a new high in nearly 8 years. In 2023, the total export volume of seamless pipes in China reached 5.66 million tons, and in 2024, the total export volume was 5.7 million tons, an increase of 0.57% compared with 2023. From 2020 to 2024, the export volume of seamless pipes increased year by year. Behind this growth trend, the price competitiveness index and quality recognition index of Chinese seamless pipes in the international market have both improved. At the same time, China has actively explored emerging markets and increased market development efforts in countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

III. Conclusion

China exports relatively few steel products directly to the United States. The total export volume to the United States in 2024 was only 500,000 tons. However, China has a relatively large amount of transshipped exports through Southeast Asia. For example, the growth rate of steel exports from Vietnam to the United States is relatively fast. The increase in tariffs will suppress the entry of steel products into the US market. But the overall impact is limited. In the short term, US steel mills will be affected by reduced competition and rising prices, and the capacity utilization rate will increase. During Trump's first term, tariffs of 25% were imposed on steel and 10% on aluminum. However, tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and Brazil were subsequently waived. After the imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs in the first term, the capacity utilization rate of US steel mills once rose to over 80%. However, with the fierce global competition in steel products, the capacity utilization rate of US steel mills has gradually declined. This has a greater impact on Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and South Korea. These countries will have to seek price cuts or look for other trading buyers, putting downward pressure on global steel prices.

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[sinosteel-pipe]

It is reported that there has been almost no progress in the US-EU trade negotiations.

According to media reports, this week the European Union and the United States have made little progress in bridging trade differences. An official from the Trump administration revealed that most of the tariffs imposed by the United States on the European Union will not be lifted.

On Monday (April 14) local time, Maros Sefcovic, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security of the European Commission, met with Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative, in Washington. The meeting lasted about two hours.

According to informed sources, after the meeting with the U.S. side, Sefcovic could hardly figure out the U.S. position and it was difficult to judge the real intention of the U.S. side. Informed sources disclosed that U.S. officials stated that the originally planned 20% "reciprocal" tariffs on the European Union as well as tariffs in the fields of automobiles and metals will not be lifted.

Last week, the EU agreed to postpone the implementation of retaliatory tariffs on 21billionworthofU.S.goodsuntilJuly14toallowtimefornegotiationswiththeU.S.side.However,theEUalsostatedthatifnosatisfactoryresultsareachievedinthenegotiationsafter90days,thecountermeasuresagainstabout21 billion worth of U.S. goods will take effect immediately.

The report said that the EU proposed that both sides lift tariffs on all industrial products, including automobiles. However, at present, it seems that the United States has rejected this proposal. Informed sources pointed out that although the U.S. side insists that some sectoral tariff measures must be retained, in the field of automobiles, some tariffs may be "offset" by increasing U.S. investment, production, and exports.

U.S. officials also said that if U.S. exports do not show improvement, relevant tariffs may be further increased in the future. Informed sources said that the United States hopes to see European chemical companies produce more pharmaceutical raw materials in the United States, promote supply chain integration, enjoy preferential U.S. government procurement policies, and suggested that the EU raise its drug prices.

Previously, U.S. Vice President Vance had said that the lower prices of European drugs are because Americans are "footing the bill" for their healthcare system.

On steel, aluminum, and potentially copper products in the future, the United States hopes that the EU will come up with its own solutions and is also exploring the possibility of establishing a "common tariff". Informed sources added that it is not yet clear whether these ideas have broad support from the U.S. government, and some of them may even violate World Trade Organization rules.

The EU also proposed increasing imports of liquefied natural gas from the United States, but the Trump administration has little interest in this and prefers to focus on so-called "non-tariff barriers", such as digital and artificial intelligence regulatory provisions and food standards. The two sides will continue consultations at the technical level.

[sinosteel-pipe]

The China-US trade war: 125 vs. 145