China’s Communist Party has laid out recommendations for the next Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), allowing analysts an insight into policy for the coming years. The role of steel remains uncertain however, as the focus has been elsewhere. Will steel be hurt or supported by shifting trends?
Domestic markets have strengthened in October and China’s steel sector has been enjoying the aftereffects of strong stimulus. That has extended strong demand even into November, but this could change in the coming months as policy normalises.

China’s top political leadership met in late October to approve recommendations for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). This will set the tone and direction for economic policy in the medium term, and analysts have been picking through the limited information available so far in an attempt to predict what is in the pipeline to be released over the coming months. The actual plan itself will not be released until at least March 2021. Although there is little detail available, there is enough official comment to outline key policy directions.