China to introduce export licenses for a wide range of steel products from 2026

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), together with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, announced the introduction of export licensing for certain steel products. The relevant decision is enshrined in Announcement No. 79-2025, published on December 9, and will come into force on January 1, 2026. The document provides for amendments to the «Catalogue of Goods Subject to Export License Management (2025)».

According to the official appendix to the announcement, a wide range of steel products are subject to licensing, not just raw materials or semi-finished products. In particular, export permits will be mandatory for the supply of pig iron, ferroalloys, steel semi-finished products (slabs, billets), as well as finished metal products. The list includes flat rolled products, long rolled products, as well as pipe and infrastructure products, including seamless pipes, rails, and sheet piles.

To export these goods, foreign trade companies must obtain a license based on an export contract and a quality certificate issued by the manufacturer. Licenses will be issued by both the central office of MOFCOM and regional trade authorities in provinces and cities, depending on the status of the enterprise.

The introduction of licenses does not mean a direct ban on exports, but it does create an administrative mechanism for controlling steel supplies from China. Given the record volumes of Chinese steel exports in recent years and weak domestic demand, the new rules could become a tool to curb external sales and have a significant impact on the global market in 2026.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2024, China reduced steel production by 1.7% compared to 2023, to 1.005 billion tons. At the same time, exports reached a record level of 110.72 million tons, which is 22.7% more than in 2023. The indicator continues to grow amid weak domestic consumption. Imports amounted to 6.8 million tons, down 10.5% y/y.