Noticias

As the "industrial teeth" of manufacturing, the quality of tool steel directly determines the precision and efficiency of high-end equipment manufacturing. At the end of 2025, with industrial chain adjustments caused by raw material price fluctuations, the implementation of enterprise technological breakthroughs, and the continuous release of high-end downstream demand, China's tool steel industry is bidding farewell to the old model of scale expansion. It is stepping into a new stage of high-quality development through technological innovation, product upgrading and market optimization. It provides solid support for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry.

At the end of 2025, the steel industry ushered in a highlight period with intensive implementation of multiple technological breakthroughs. China's first 1-million-tonne near-zero-carbon steel production line was put into operation. The world's thinnest "tearable steel" achieved large-scale mass production. Smart factories also gained national recognition. A series of key technological innovations are breaking the inherent label of high energy consumption and high pollution in the traditional steel industry. They are promoting the industry to fully enter a new stage of high-quality development featuring green low carbon, high-end and intelligence. They provide solid support for the construction of a modern industrial system.

At the end of 2025, the selection and release of achievements related to the "Top Ten Technologies in the World Steel Industry 2025" became the focus of the industry. Breakthrough technologies in fields such as low-carbon metallurgy, high-end material R&D, and smart factory construction were included in the list. For example, Ansteel's world's first green electricity and green hydrogen fluidized bed hydrogen metallurgy pilot line was connected. Shougang Cold Rolling was selected as a global "Lighthouse Factory". These technologies have solved the traditional problems of high emissions and high energy consumption in the steel industry. They have also promoted the industry's transformation towards green low-carbon, high-end quality, and intelligent efficiency. They have injected strong momentum into the high-quality development of the global steel industry.

In response to the prominent issue of current "involution-driven" competition, the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission has clearly proposed to accelerate the improvement of the capacity regulation mechanism for key industries, strengthen dynamic monitoring and early warning, and strive to standardize the market competition order. This will fundamentally change the competition rules and survival environment of the stainless steel and other industries.

Driven by expectations of favorable macro policies and rising costs across the industrial chain, pipe manufacturers have maintained a price-firming sentiment, leading to a rebound in welded pipe prices after a decline and a stronger market atmosphere. As of the 12th, the mainstream transaction price of 304 welded pipes had increased by 200 yuan/ton from the start of the month to 13,000 yuan/ton. While market participants hold a cautiously optimistic attitude, the weak fundamental demand support remains unchanged, and the game between "strong expectations" and "weak fundamentals" dominates the market trend.

As of this cycle (December 11-18, 2025; the same below), according to Mysteel's statistics, the total weekly molten aluminum consumption for domestic primary aluminum-based semi-finished products reached 547,780 tons, a week-on-week increase of 1,210 tons from the previous period.

According to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on December 15, my country's crude steel output in November 2025 was 69.87 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 10.9%; the cumulative output from January to November was 891.67 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.0%. Behind this seemingly contracting output data lies a profound transformation in the steel industry—steel exports in November reached 9.98 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 7.6%, profits in high-end special steel increased significantly, and hydrogen metallurgy technology has been successfully implemented. The crude steel industry is bidding farewell to the "scale competition," improving quality while reducing output, and breaking through bottlenecks through transformation.

At the construction site, steelworker Mr. Li scanned the QR code on the rebar in his hand, and his phone immediately displayed the place of origin, mechanical performance report, and the name of the quality inspector—this is the most intuitive change in the steel rebar industry in 2025. From the load-bearing backbone of high-speed rail tracks to the framework of self-built houses in rural areas, steel rebar has always been an "invisible safety lock," but this year its role has become exceptionally diverse: exports surged to 3.2085 million tons from January to October, a year-on-year increase of 49.36%, while prices have been like a roller coaster ride. In December, the price of HRB400E rebar was 4,120 yuan/ton, 230 yuan/ton lower than at the beginning of the year. With the widespread adoption of quality traceability codes, the implementation of rare earth technology, and the accelerated recycling of scrap steel, this "iron bone" is shedding its "clumsy" label, becoming both smart and environmentally friendly.