Since 2024, escalating US tariffs have placed mounting pressure on China’s stainless steel exports, particularly undermining the competitiveness of Chinese products in the American market. The latest round of tariff increases in 2025 is expected to further strain key export categories such as kitchenware.

Despite these challenges, exports remain critical for China in addressing domestic oversupply. In 2024, the country’s net stainless steel exports surged by 62.7% year on year, reaching 3.167 million tons. Notably, exports to the US rose by 18.7%. However, recent tariff hikes may reverse these gains, with the potential for order losses already looming.

The impact extends beyond stainless steel. Electronics and machinery, important downstream sectors that rely on steel, could also be affected. As tariffs rise, these industries risk losing their edge, further dampening overall export performance. For China’s domestic market, rising costs and a well-supplied market are likely to make the stainless steel market negative. To navigate growing external uncertainty, China’s stainless steel industry must adapt its strategies to maintain competitiveness and support export stability.