China's steel exports exceeded 10 million tonnes for a third consecutive month in July 2026, easing from the previous month but rising year on year, according to the latest monthly import-export report from the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA).

Long steel products showed stronger export resilience, while flat products faced divergent pressures. Billet exports remained elevated. By region, ASEAN members showed mixed trends, exports to the Gulf Cooperation Council continued to weaken, and shipments to Turkey more than doubled month on month.

Among 22 steel product categories, 11 saw export volumes rise from June, with 10 categories shipping over 500,000 tonnes each. Heavy plate and extra-heavy plate exports surged over 60% month on month, while electrical steel sheet and bar exports rose over 20%. Products with notable declines included railway materials, rebar and medium-wide hot-rolled strip, each falling over 20% from the prior month.

Export unit prices fell for 13 product categories in July, with electrical steel sheet posting the steepest drop, down 9.6% month on month and 520.5% year on year. Heavy plate prices rose 10.2% from June, the largest monthly gain.

Billet exports eased in July with prices broadly flat. Shipments totaled 2.53 million tonnes, down 11.0% from the previous month but staying above 2 million tonnes for a second consecutive month. Export unit prices edged down 0.04% month on month.

By destination, July exports showed divergence. Shipments to Turkey jumped 115.3% month on month, while exports to the Philippines and Vietnam rose 20.7% and 14.2% respectively. In contrast, exports to Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Thailand fell 31.2%, 26.5%, 25.0% and 21.5% respectively.

Billet exports to major destinations also diverged, with growth to Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, while shipments to Thailand and Malaysia plunged nearly 50% month on month. Double-digit declines were recorded for Italy, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Djibouti and China's Taiwan.

China exported 10.12 million tonnes of steel in July 2026, down 1.9% month on month but up 2.9% year on year, with average export prices at $715.7/t, up 0.7% from June and 1.9% from a year earlier. Cumulative exports for January-July totaled 64.99 million tonnes, down 4.4% year on year, with average prices at $703.4/t, up 0.6%.