Will the Middle East Turmoil Cloud China’s Galvanized Sheet Exports in March?

SMM Mar 26 News:

According to the latest customs data, galvanized sheet exports stood at 926,600 mt in January 2026 and 1.1677 million mt in February, bringing cumulative exports in January-February to 2.0942 million mt, down 0.14% YoY. China’s total galvanized sheet exports in January-February this year were basically flat YoY.

By country. The top three importers of Chinese galvanized sheet in January-February were the Philippines (181,000 mt, 8.6%), Thailand (156,000 mt, 7.4%), and South Korea (112,000 mt).

China began implementing export license management for some steel products in 2026. The market was concerned about forging or purchasing customs clearance documents from other import and export firms, so shipments were rushed in December, and related orders therefore declined in January. However, by February, China enterprises had gradually become familiar with the implementation process under the new rules. Imports of Chinese galvanized sheet by the Philippines, Thailand, Belgium, Indonesia, and other countries increased significantly in February, driving galvanized sheet exports higher against the trend, with outside-China demand for galvanized sheet remaining resilient.

Entering March, as China’s galvanized sheet plants gradually resumed work and production after the holiday, the seasonal pattern suggested that March galvanized sheet exports usually continued to rise from February. However, on February 18, Brazil’s Foreign Trade Chamber issued a final anti-dumping ruling on galvanized and galvalume steel coils originating in China, reigniting the anti-dumping wave. Coupled with continued disruptions from the Middle East situation, SMM learned that China’s galvanized sheet export orders to the Middle East fell significantly in March. Geopolitical conflicts also disrupted overall transportation costs, and March galvanized sheet exports are expected to see no significant growth.

(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.)