News
January 14
China’s Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs announced thatstarting January 1, 2026, selected steel products will be subject to anexport licence requirement. Under the new system, exporters must presentvalid export contracts and product quality certificatesbefore applying for an export licence. The policy covers about300 categories of steel goods, including pig iron, semi-finished steel, flat and long products, pipes, and other key items. The move is intended tostrengthen regulatory oversight, improve export quality control, and help stabilise domestic steel pricesby tracking and managing steel exports more effectively. China’s robust export volumes in 2025 have drawn increasing international scrutiny and trade tensions, and authorities hope that this licensing regime will encourage higher-value and better-quality shipments while aligning withWTO rules.
