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 …

Chinese steel markets lost steam last month as the peak demand season was not enough to support prices. While the market is focussed on the short-term movements of the coming weeks, China’s leaders are focussed on the bigger picture. As they gather to iron out policies for the coming five …

As China prepares to enter another period of peak demand, expectations for the short term are bullish. Forecasts for the year have been revised upwards, in part because of strong demand and in part because of China becoming a net importer of steel.

There is also some caution about whether …

China’s demand rush has left its prices so high that imports have become increasingly attractive. With China officially a net importer of steel in June, how long can this phenomenon last? Will the country still be absorbing global excess steel supply for the rest of this year and into 2021? …