At the 2025 Alacero Summit, World Steel Dynamics’ John Lichtenstein pointed to a deepening global challenge: China’s indirect steel exports are rising faster than ever. Rather than shipping raw steel, China is increasingly exporting steel embedded in finished goods, especially vehicles and machinery, which now surpasses direct steel exports.

This shift isn’t just about volume. It reflects a move into higher-value products, with autos alone forecast to make up a quarter of China’s indirect steel exports in 2025. That’s putting real pressure on steel-using industries worldwide.

Lichtenstein urged governments to look beyond simple trade numbers. To respond effectively, countries must track not only what is imported, but how it enters local supply chains, whether as parts, finished goods, or capital equipment, and assess related Chinese investments carefully. The goal must be to safeguard and strengthen domestic industrial ecosystems, not just attract foreign capital.