China will require export licenses for nearly all steel products starting Jan 1, 2026, reports Caixin. The move is aimed to rein in surging overseas shipments that have drawn global scrutiny and fueled trade disputes.
The Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs jointly announced the measure, noting that the licensing regime will cover most steel-related exports, including crude iron, billets, coils, plates, pipes, and scrap. Exemptions will be limited to a few finished products such as fasteners and household appliances.
China exported 97.7 million tons of steel in the first 10 months of 2025, a 6.6% rise from a year earlier. But average export prices fell 8.7% to $695.4 per ton, underscoring a surge of low-priced shipments. The new licensing requirement is designed to curb illicit exports that evade domestic taxes and to ease frictions with trade partners that have grown more aggressive in launching antidumping actions.