[SMM Analysis] Trade Barriers & Seasonal Lull to Weigh on China's Galvanized Steel Exports in June

SMM June 23 News:

According to the latest customs data, China's galvanized steel sheet exports reached 1.2075 million metric tons in May 2026, up 2.67% month-on-month and 8.36% year-on-year. Cumulative exports for January–May 2026 totaled 5.6348 million metric tons, down 2.71% year-on-year.

Export Destinations

By country, the Philippines remained the largest importer of Chinese galvanized steel sheet in May, importing 183,000 metric tons. Thailand ranked second with 162,000 metric tons, accounting for 13.4% of total exports, while South Korea ranked third with 117,000 metric tons, representing 9.7% of total shipments.

May Exports In Line with Expectations

The modest increase in China's galvanized steel sheet exports in May broadly matched market expectations.

On the one hand, export orders destined for certain Middle Eastern markets have yet to fully recover, limiting the growth of China's overseas shipments. On the other hand, Southeast Asian countries are gradually entering the rainy season, with end-user demand expected to weaken, thereby affecting regional import demand and related export orders.

June Outlook: Trade Barriers and Seasonal Weakness Weigh on Exports

Looking ahead to June, China's galvanized steel sheet exports are likely to face increasing headwinds.

On June 16, Türkiye's Ministry of Trade issued its final anti-dumping ruling on certain galvanized steel products from China, with anti-dumping duties taking effect immediately. This was followed by the implementation of South Korea's anti-dumping duties on Chinese galvanized steel sheet on June 17.

The new trade measures are expected to negatively impact export orders to key destinations such as South Korea and Türkiye. At the same time, the ongoing rainy season across several overseas markets is likely to further dampen demand.

Against this backdrop, China's galvanized steel sheet export orders are unlikely to show meaningful improvement in June, with both policy-related restrictions and seasonal demand weakness continuing to weigh on overseas shipments.

(The above information is based on market collection and comprehensive evaluation by the SMM research team. The information provided in this article is for reference only. This article does not constitute direct advice for investment research and decision-making. Customers should make cautious decisions and should not replace their independent judgment with this information. Any decisions made by customers are not related to SMM.)