China’s stainless steel exports saw a solid increase in the first quarter of 2025, rising 15.47% year-on-year to 1.2259 million metric tons (mt), according to data released by Chinese customs authorities. Meanwhile, imports of stainless steel fell sharply by 25.87% to 450,800 mt over the same period.

In March alone, stainless steel exports surged 71.0% month-on-month to 470,600 mt, marking a 21.82% increase compared to March 2024. Imports for the month dropped by 19.44% from February, totaling 128,900 mt—a 15.59% year-on-year decline.

China’s net stainless steel exports in March hit 341,700 mt, up 196.61% from the previous month and 46.28% from a year earlier. For the January–March period, net exports also rose significantly, up 70.88% year-on-year.

On the scrap side, China imported 6,360 mt of stainless steel scrap in March, a 7.3% increase month-on-month but 26.1% lower than the same month last year. Cumulative scrap imports for the first quarter reached 20,000 mt, down 32.5% year-on-year.