Panhua Group's 200,000-ton Coated Steel Production Line in the Philippines Commissions, Boosting the Philippines' Steel Industry Upgrade​

On May 27, 2025, exciting news emerged from Maasim Town, Sarangani Province, southern Philippines. The 200,000-ton annual coated steel production line of the integrated steel project invested by China's Panhua Group was successfully commissioned, and the first coil of coated steel products rolled off the production line. This milestone achievement marks significant progress in the construction of the first full-process integrated steel plant in the history of the Philippines.​
Looking back on the project's journey, as early as September 16, 2019, Panhua Group signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, laying the foundation for the establishment of the integrated steel plant. On January 8, 2020, Panhua Group registered a wholly-owned subsidiary in the Philippines, officially kicking off the project's preparatory work. Since then, through multiple rounds of close communication and coordination with the Philippine side, the project has advanced steadily.​
With a total investment of 3.5 billion US dollars (approximately 25 billion yuan), this integrated steel project is one of the largest industrial investment projects by Chinese enterprises in the Philippines. The project is planned to build a comprehensive manufacturing base covering steel production, port operation, industrial park, and supporting power plants, aiming to create an integrated steel manufacturing center integrating steel mills, ports, industrial parks, and power plants. After completion, the project will significantly reduce the Philippines' dependence on imported steel, effectively lower infrastructure construction costs, and ease the pressure of the trade deficit.​
During the commissioning process, Panhua Group has maintained an efficient pace of progress. In August 2024, the group reaffirmed its commitment to start production within the year and revealed that the first-phase 2.2 million-ton billet production line and its supporting public auxiliary facilities, docks, etc., were being constructed in an orderly manner, with operation expected to begin in the first half of 2025. In October of the same year, Panhua Group signed a contract with China National Heavy Machinery Research Institute to launch a 2 million-ton annual high-end coated steel plate project. In December, the second phase of the Philippine steel project was officially signed, planning to add an annual production capacity of 3 million tons. The successful commissioning of the 200,000-ton annual coated steel production line is an important milestone in the project's progress, injecting strong impetus into the subsequent construction.