China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced that it will implement a steel export licensing system in an effort to control the record volumes of metal shipments flowing out of the country.
The ministry said in a statement that exporters will be required to obtain a permit to ship a range of steel products starting January 1.
The statement did not provide any reason for the new regulations, but they come at the end of a record year for Chinese steel exports.
The ministry listed around 300 specific steel products that will be covered by the rules, including certain types of billets and stainless steel.
The latest trade data indicates that steel exports are on track to set a record in 2025, with volumes exceeding 100 million tons in the first 11 months of the year.