Data from the General Administration of Customs show that from January to May 2026, China's total import and export value of mechanical and electrical products reached $1,599.74 billion, up 24.6% YoY. Specifically, the export value of mechanical and electrical products was $1,089.89 billion, up 22.4% YoY. A breakdown shows that the YoY growth rates of export values for integrated circuits, automobiles (including chassis), and automatic data processing equipment and parts all exceeded 30%.

[SMM Tin Midday Review: The Most-Traded SHFE Tin Contract Fluctuates at Highs, Spot Trading Sentiment Further Weakens]

On June 11, a delegation led by Boris Titov, Russian Chairman of the Russian-Chinese Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development, visited Shaanxi Nonferrous Metals Group. Wu Qunying, Party Secretary and Chairman of the Group, held talks with Titov and his delegation at the Group's headquarters, reaching a consensus on deepening trade and expanding cooperation in various business areas. Zhao Liming, member of the Group's Party Committee and Vice General Manager, also participated in the talks. Wu Qunying welcomed Titov and his delegation, noting that Shaanxi Nonferrous Metals Group had previously sent a delegation composed of relevant enterprises from the SCO Nonferrous Metals Joint Venture to Russia and other regions for economic and trade exchanges, achieving a series of fruitful results. He expressed hope that both sides would establish a regular cooperation mechanism in areas such as nonferrous metals, oil and gas, new energy, and import and export business, implementing "list-based management, milestone-based advancement, and responsibility-based implementation." He hoped that with the support of the Russian-Chinese Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development, negotiations would be accelerated to ensure the smooth delivery of trade orders, promoting deeper and more effective pragmatic cooperation in various fields across the Group's overseas operations, achieving a strong alliance and complementary advantages, and creating a new benchmark for in-depth Sino-Russian friendly cooperation.

The global secondary copper industry is at a critical juncture defined by tightening resources, green transformation, and intensifying global competition. As environmental protection policies continue to tighten and the energy crisis deepens, secondary copper—with its notable environmental advantages and economic value—is playing an increasingly prominent role in alleviating tight supply of primary copper and driving low-carbon development. Currently, the global copper industry chain is under multiple pressures, including supply fragility, demand transformation, and low-carbon upgrading. Major economies have listed copper among critical minerals, and international competition for secondary copper resources is becoming ever more intense. Optimizing the industry chain structure, improving recycling and recovery efficiency, and aligning global standards have become urgent priorities for the sector. To help the industry gain a comprehensive understanding of global policy trends and market dynamics. SMM and Qingyuan Xiangzhan Metal Trading Co., Ltd. have joined forces to create the , focusing on industry development directions, amplifying market voices, and aiming to provide practitioners with an authoritative and professional industry distribution guide. (Click the link to receive a free copy: ) Qingyuan Xiangzhan Metal Trading Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive enterprise specializing in non-ferrous metal material supply, processing and manufacturing, and international trade services. Its main business covers a wide range of products, including various high-quality materials, tin-plated materials, brass block materials in various specifications (natural or plated), copper block materials, copper pipe & tube materials, copper powder, copper bricks, copper ingots, copper alloy materials, 3-series and 4-series stainless steel, secondary aluminum, and aluminum ingots. The company’s operations span production and processing, procurement integration, import and export trade, and supply chain services. Leveraging its production site in Thailand and supply chain advantages in Southeast Asia, the company has established robust systems for raw material procurement, production management, quality control, and logistics distribution, and is committed to providing stable and reliable metal material products to global clients. Its products are widely used in electronic appliances, machinery equipment, hardware manufacturing, casting processing, automotive parts, new energy, and industrial manufacturing. Over the years, Xiangzhan Metal has upheld the philosophy of “Quality First, Integrity in Business, and Win-Win Cooperation,” continuously enhancing product quality and service standards. It has maintained long-term, close cooperative relationships with the Taiwan region and actively promoted industrial exchanges and resource integration across the Strait and within Southeast Asian markets. With professional market experience, stable supply capabilities, and comprehensive international trade services, the company has become a trusted partner to numerous clients. Looking ahead, Xiangzhan Metal will continue to deepen its industrial footprint in the metal materials sector, strengthen its global procurement and sales network, and enhance its processing technology and supply chain management capabilities, striving to become a competitive metal material supplier and international trade service provider in Asia. Qingyuan Xiangzhan Metal Trading Co., Ltd. Contact Information Ling Jingzhao 134 1727 8888 Cao Bangjiang 177 2882 2736 SMM Co-production Contact Person Liu Mingkang 156 5309 0867 liumingkang@smm.cn

[Major steel mills did not continue to push up prices; the non-oriented silicon steel market may remain in the doldrums next week] This week, spot prices of cold-rolled non-oriented silicon steel in Shanghai were stable, with overall market transactions being moderate. Market feedback indicated that ferrous metals futures swung wildly this week, and coupled with Baowu's flat July price policy, the drivers for price changes were weak. In terms of fundamentals, downstream demand remained sluggish, with weak purchasing enthusiasm. Meanwhile, steel mills reduced production, leaving both supply and demand for non-oriented silicon steel weak. Although some traders destocked, overall market inventory remained high, suppressing prices.

On June 9, customs data showed that China exported 10.341 million mt of steel in May 2026, an increase of 844,000 mt MoM, up 8.9% MoM. Cumulative exports from January to May reached 44.554 million mt, down 8.1% YoY. China imported 451,000 mt of steel in May 2026, a decrease of 14,000 mt MoM, down 3.1% MoM. Cumulative imports from January to May totaled 2.255 million mt, declining 12.2% YoY. Table1 – Steel Import and Export Data Overview, January-May Source: SMM Steel Exports in May Crossed 10 Million mt MoM According to SMM's export schedule survey for May, planned HRC exports that month stood at 1.1435 million mt, up 213,500 mt from actual April exports, a 23% MoM increase. Meanwhile, SMM export order data showed that from March to April, domestic export prices held a strong advantage in international markets, and overseas demand for semi-finished products remained present. Export orders reached a periodical high in mid-April, providing some support for May exports exceeding 10 million mt. Table 2– China Total Steel Exports Source: SMM Steel Imports in May Declined MoM On the import side, steel imports stood at 451,000 mt in May, edging down MoM. From January to May, China imported a total of 2.255 million mt of steel, down 12.2% YoY; net steel exports reached 42.299 million mt. Short-Term Steel Export Outlook 1. Global manufacturing diverges notably; US accelerates sharply while domestic new export orders slide from highs Global manufacturing activity showed marked divergence in May 2026. The latest PMI data indicates the US accelerated strongly, rising to 54% from 52.7% in April, though cost surges driven by inflation posed significant headwinds. The Eurozone PMI dropped to 47.5% from 48.8%. India continued to demonstrate resilience: its May manufacturing PMI reached 55%, a three-month high, fueled by robust domestic demand, infrastructure spending, and new business growth. China's new export orders index came in at 48.6% in May, down 1.7 percentage points MoM, reflecting some weakening in export demand. 2. Overseas supply continues to decline, particularly evident in the Middle East World Steel Association data shows global crude steel production fell 1.9% YoY to 153.4 million mt in April 2026. Excluding China, output in the rest of the world slid 4.25% MoM, with production schedule paces diverging significantly across regions. Among markets outside China, India and Vietnam maintained high production levels, mainly benefiting from the structural ramp-up dividends brought by new capacity commissioning. Meanwhile, the US and Germany also stood out in April: the US was directly boosted by seasonal Q2 production schedule expansions in high-end manufacturing sectors such as automobiles, while Germany's four consecutive months of production rebound essentially reflected a strategic inventory build by steel mills in response to raw material price fluctuations. In contrast, Middle East production continued its steep YoY plunge during the month, mainly attributable to wartime energy controls and systemic logistical paralysis triggered by the US-Iran conflict and the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Overall, Middle East output remains in contraction. As original recipient countries face a lack of stable supply sources, coupled with the digestion of previous low-priced resources, China's steel export orders may encounter structural opportunities. Figure 1 – Global Crude Steel Production by Region Source: SMM 3. Price advantage remains notable, but Southeast Asian markets show price-cutting behavior to seize market share As of June 5, 2026, HRC export quotations (FOB) from India, Turkey, and the CIS stood at $550/mt, $645/mt, and $535/mt, respectively, while China's HRC export quotation (FOB) was $501/mt. China's HRC export quotations currently stand at discounts of -$49/mt, -$144/mt, and -$34/mt against these countries, keeping its steel export price advantage distinct. Recently, however, Southeast Asia entered its off-season; with domestic demand unable to support elevated prices, there are signs of price reductions to capture orders from the international market and disperse domestic pressures. The price spread between China and Southeast Asia has narrowed somewhat. Figure 2 – HRC Quotations in Key Global Markets Source: SMM 4. Export orders dropped notably in May, with a related slowdown after concentrated procurement According to SMM's latest survey of steel mill export schedules, planned HRC exports this month stand at 1.03 million mt, roughly steady compared with actual exports last month. SMM steel export order data indicates that, affected by holidays, export orders in May declined noticeably from April on a MoM basis. Orders for both flat products and long products slipped, signaling that overseas buyers have slowed their procurement pace after the earlier round of concentrated procurement. Figure 3 – SMM Steel Export Order Volumes Source: SMM 5. HRC faced the most cases entering the enforcement stage in May After the concentrated final rulings of anti-dumping cases in April, anti-dumping cases decreased somewhat in May, involving products including HRC, coiled rebar, section steel, and steel pipes. Specific cases and their affected volumes are shown in the table below: Table – New Anti-Dumping Cases in May Source: SMM Taking all factors into consideration, as the new export orders index narrows somewhat, Southeast Asian markets cut prices to compete for orders, and the significant contraction in export order volumes over the previous two months gradually feeds through to the shipment stage, the cushioning effect from earlier orders will weaken considerably. SMM expects that actual total steel exports in June will face some downward pressure. At the same time, as overseas supply of previously low-priced materials is absorbed and Chinese prices remain competitive, domestic export orders may show a bottoming-out recovery trend. Recent feedback from the Southeast Asian market also indicates new procurement demand for semi-finished products. Figure 4 – Steel Exports and Forecast, 2024-2026 Source: SMM Disclaimer on Data Sources: Except for publicly available information, all other data herein are processed and derived by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and SMM's internal database models. The content is for reference only and does not constitute decision-making advice. Note: This article is an original work published on this official account. For requests regarding reproduction, whitelist access, cooperation, or other matters, please contact us. Without permission, the content shall not be reproduced, modified, used, sold, transferred, displayed, translated, compiled, disseminated, or otherwise disclosed to third parties or licensed for third-party use. Upon discovery of any violation, Shanghai Metals Market will pursue infringement liability through legal means, including but not limited to demanding contractual breach of contract liability, return of unjust enrichment, and compensation for direct and indirect economic losses. Scan to Get Free Information