China Steel Exports Rise 3.3% to 10.49M Tons
China exported 10.492 million tonnes of finished steel in September 2026, up 3.3% from August and 0.3% from a year earlier, while January-September shipments remained 2.6% below the comparable 2025 period at 85.641 million tonnes.
- September steel exports: 10.492 million tonnes, up 3.3% M/M and 0.3% Y/Y.
- January-September exports: 85.641 million tonnes, down 2.6% Y/Y.
- Export trend: September was the fifth consecutive month above 10 million tonnes.
- Steel imports: 492,000 tonnes in September, up 13.4% M/M but down 10.2% Y/Y.
- Iron ore imports: 109.817 million tonnes, up 1.2% M/M but down about 5.6% Y/Y.
- January-September iron ore: 954.967 million tonnes, up 4.1% Y/Y.
September's monthly increase matters because China's export trend has been progressively recovering from the weakness seen at the beginning of 2026. January-August shipments were down 3.0% year over year; after September, the cumulative decline narrowed to 2.6%. China has now exported more than 10 million tonnes of finished steel in five consecutive months. The data show sustained overseas shipment volumes, but the nine-month total remains below the unusually strong 2025 comparison base.
China exported 10.492 million tonnes of finished steel products in September 2026, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China.
The monthly volume increased 3.3% from August and was approximately 0.3% higher year over year.
September marked the fifth consecutive month in which Chinese finished-steel exports exceeded 10 million tonnes.
China Steel Exports Rise by 337,000 Tonnes From August
China exported approximately 10.155 million tonnes in August, meaning September shipments increased by roughly 337,000 tonnes.
| Period | Exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | 10.155M t | +0.3% M/M |
| September 2026 | 10.492M t | +3.3% M/M |
SteelPrices previously reported the August trade data here: China Steel Exports Rise 0.3% M/M in August .
Nine-Month Steel Exports Remain 2.6% Below 2025
Despite the stronger monthly performance, China's cumulative 2026 exports remained below the previous year's level.
Finished-steel shipments totaled 85.641 million tonnes during January-September, down 2.6% year over year.
The comparable January-September 2025 total was approximately 87.96 million tonnes.
That represents a year-over-year shortfall of about 2.32 million tonnes.
| January-September | Finished-Steel Exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ~87.96M t | — |
| 2026 | 85.641M t | -2.6% |
For the earlier trend, see: China Steel Exports Fell 4.4% Y/Y in January-July .
Exports Have Exceeded 10 Million Tonnes for Five Months
September extended a run of elevated monthly finished-steel shipments.
Mysteel, citing GACC data, noted that September was the fifth consecutive month with exports above 10 million tonnes and the fourth consecutive month in which exports increased year over year.
The trend contrasts with the beginning of 2026, when exports were substantially lower following the introduction of China's steel export licensing system on January 1.
January-February finished-steel exports totaled 15.59 million tonnes, down 8.1% year over year.
SteelPrices covered the early-year impact here: China Steel Exports Fell 8.1% Y/Y in January-February .
China Steel Imports Rise 13.4% M/M to 492,000 Tonnes
China's finished-steel imports also increased from the previous month, although volumes remained low compared with exports.
September steel imports totaled 492,000 tonnes, up 13.4% month over month from approximately 434,000 tonnes in August.
Imports were nevertheless 10.2% below September 2025.
For January-September, steel imports totaled 4.066 million tonnes, down 10.5% year over year.
| Trade Flow | Volume | M/M | Y/Y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 10.492M t | +3.3% | +0.3% |
| Imports | 0.492M t | +13.4% | -10.2% |
On a simple volume basis, September finished-steel exports were more than 21 times the country's steel imports.
Average Imported Steel Unit Value Reaches $1,891.9/t
The reported average value of China's steel imports in September was $1,891.9 per tonne.
That figure should be interpreted as an average customs unit value across the imported steel mix rather than a spot market price for a specific steel product.
China Iron Ore Imports Rise 1.2% to 109.82 Million Tonnes
China's iron ore imports also increased sequentially in September.
Imports of iron ore and concentrates reached 109.817 million tonnes, up 1.2% month over month.
The monthly volume was approximately 5.6% below September 2025.
January-September imports totaled 954.967 million tonnes, up 4.1% year over year.
| Iron Ore Measure | Volume | Change |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 109.817M t | +1.2% M/M; ~-5.6% Y/Y |
| Jan.-Sept. 2026 | 954.967M t | +4.1% Y/Y |
The reported average customs value of September iron ore imports was approximately $95.1/t.
2025 Steel Exports Set a Record at 119.02 Million Tonnes
The year-over-year comparison remains demanding because China set a record for finished-steel exports in 2025.
Full-year shipments reached 119.02 million tonnes, up 7.5% from 2024 and above the previous record of 112.4 million tonnes set in 2015.
China imported 6.06 million tonnes of finished steel in 2025, down 11.1% year over year.
Iron ore imports reached approximately 1.259 billion tonnes, up 1.8% year over year.
SteelPrices covered the record trade year here: China Steel Exports and Iron Ore Imports Hit Record Highs .
What Do China's September Steel Export Data Show?
September strengthens the evidence that China's finished-steel export volumes have recovered from the weaker start to 2026.
Monthly shipments have remained above 10 million tonnes since May, and the cumulative year-over-year decline has narrowed from 4.4% through July to 3.0% through August and 2.6% through September.
However, year-to-date exports have not yet caught the record pace of 2025.
At the same time, China's steel imports continue to decline on a cumulative basis, reinforcing the country's large net-export position in finished steel.
Iron ore presents a different trade pattern: September imports increased month over month, and cumulative 2026 volumes remained above last year even as current ore prices and steel-mill margins have weakened.
Primary trade source: General Administration of Customs of China.
Additional reporting: China Iron and Steel Association; Shanghai Metals Market; Mysteel Global.
