As of early April, the cumulative tariffs imposed by the US on Chinese goods reached 125%. However, this week, the US lifted some of the tariffs, leaving only the minimum base tariff in place. 

According to statistics, China's domestic stainless steel consumption was about 32.62 million tons in 2024, with an annual growth rate of 3.31%, mainly driven by the industrialization process and the growth of stainless steel in various application fields.

In the first quarter of 2025, stainless steel consumption reached a high of 8.0774 million tons, an increase of 6.2% over the same period last year. Among the goods exported to the US, electronics and electrical machinery accounted for a large proportion, reflecting the important downstream demand of China's steel industry. 

Although the US has removed some tariffs, it is still not enough to eliminate the pressure on exports. In particular, a 70% tariff is still imposed on pipes, flanges, and stainless steel sinks, posing a great challenge to Chinese manufacturers' operations.