BUSINESS

China’s Crude Steel Output Falls For Second Straight Year

Published: Jan. 19, 2026 7:47 p.m. GMT+8

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China’s annual crude steel output fell below 1 billion tons for the first time in six years in 2025, official data showed Monday, extending a streak of declines as the world’s second-largest economy shifts away from property-driven growth.

Crude steel output reached 960 million tons last year, a 4.4% decrease from 2024, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

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China’s crude steel output fell to 960 million tons in 2025, down 4.4% from 2024 and below 1 billion tons for the first time in six years.
Steel exports reached a record 119 million tons in 2025, a 7.5% increase year-on-year.
Ferrous metal smelting and processing profits surged 17.5 times to 111.5 billion yuan ($16 billion) in the first 11 months of 2025.

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What Happened When

Since 2021：: Beijing has adopted policies to control crude steel output to address overcapacity.

In 2024：: China's crude steel output was higher than 960 million tons (as the 2025 output is 4.4% lower).

In 2025：: China’s annual crude steel output fell below 1 billion tons for the first time in six years, reaching 960 million tons.

In 2025：: China’s steel exports reached a record 119 million tons, a 7.5% increase year-on-year.

In the first 11 months of 2025：: Total profits of China’s ferrous metal smelting and rolling processing sector surged 17.5-fold year-on-year to 111.5 billion yuan.