China reduced iron ore production by 2.8% y/y in 2025

In December, this indicator fell by 4.4% y/y

China reduced iron ore production by 2.8% year-on-year – to 983.71 million tonnes in 2025, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS), SteelOrbis reports.

In December last year, this figure was 79.34 million tonnes, which is 4.4% less on an annualised basis and compared to the previous month.

According to SteelOrbis, the lowest price for iron ore in China – $104/tonne during the last month of the year – was recorded on 9 and 15 December, and the highest – $107/tonne – on 18, 22 and 29 December.

It should be recalled that in 2025, China increased its iron ore imports by 1.8% y/y to 1.26 billion tonnes, with these volumes growing for the third consecutive year. In December, the figure stood at 119.64 million tonnes, up 8.2% from the previous month.

As reported by GMK Center, steel production in China fell below 1 billion tonnes last year, reaching its lowest level since 2018. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, in 2025, the country produced 960.81 million tonnes of steel, which is 4.4% less on an annualised basis. The decline was a consequence of the protracted crisis in the real estate market, which significantly limited domestic demand for metal products.

In December, steel production in the country decreased by 2.4% month-on-month to 68.18 million tonnes, the lowest level since December 2023 and the seventh consecutive monthly decline. In annual terms, the figure fell by 10.3%. Steel exports from China in 2025 rose to a record high of over 119 million tonnes.