[SMM Hot Topic] Analysis of Steel Billet and Hot-rolled Steel Export from January to July

[SMM Hot Topic] Analysis of Steel Billet and Hot-rolled Steel Export from January to July

• Steel Billet

According to data from the General Administration of Customs, the total domestic steel billet export volume from January to July 2025 reached 7.472 million mt, up 309.72% YoY. In July, the total domestic steel billet export volume was 1.5798 million mt, up 34.37% MoM and 349.07% YoY. Among them, square billets accounted for 53.96%, and plate billets accounted for 14.63%.

Based on data compiled by SMM from the General Administration of Customs, in terms of export destinations, Indonesia ranked first in the cumulative total steel billet export volume from January to July 2025, with a total of 1.154 million mt, accounting for 15% of the total steel billet export volume. The Philippines followed with an export volume of 988,600 mt, accounting for 13% of the total. Turkey ranked third with 646,400 mt, accounting for 9% of the total.

• Hot-rolled Steel

The latest data from the General Administration of Customs shows that in July 2025, China exported 6.13 million mt of steel sheets & plates, up 19.0% YoY. The cumulative export volume from January to July reached 42.45 million mt, up 2.3% YoY. In July, China exported 1.59 million mt of steel bars, up 77.2% YoY. The cumulative export volume from January to July was 10.62 million mt, up 52.4% YoY.

Based on data compiled by SMM from the General Administration of Customs, in terms of hot-rolled steel, the total export volume from January to July 2025 reached 14.6379 million mt. In terms of export destinations, Vietnam still ranked first in the cumulative total hot-rolled steel export volume from January to July 2025, with a cumulative volume of 2.6683 million mt, accounting for 18% of the total hot-rolled steel export volume. Saudi Arabia followed with an export volume of 1.1976 million mt, accounting for 8% of the total. South Korea ranked third with 1.1943 million mt, also accounting for 8% of the total.

However, compared with the data from the same period last year, the cumulative total export volume of hot-rolled steel from January to July 2025 decreased significantly, which is closely related to the frequent anti-dumping cases faced by hot-rolled steel products this year. The significant increase in the year-on-year growth rate of steel billet exports also reflects its more flexible export and fewer restrictions. And Saudi Arabia's prominent position in this ranking also indicates that the Middle East market remains the primary growth market for trade this year. For more details, please refer to the SMM Steel Export Weekly. To obtain more information, please scan the QR code below.

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