Looking back at 2025, the overall operation of China's steel industry remained stable. According to statistics from January to November 2025, the total profit of related industries increased by 1752.2% year-on-year.

Entering December 2025, the global economic recovery remained stable, but China's domestic economy was weak, market demand entered the traditional off-season, and rising production costs squeezed the profit margins of steel mills, resulting in an overall decline compared to November.

Looking ahead to January 2026, although it will still be the off-season, the release of favorable government policies and the adjustment of raw material prices are expected to improve the performance margins. Coupled with maintenance shutdowns and expanded production cuts at most mills, as well as winter environmental protection production restrictions, output remained low. However, domestic demand in China was slow, and construction steel is also restricted by winter weather, leaving multiple uncertainties for the future market.

A report predicts that steel prices will show a volatile but upward trend in January 2026, and strengthened by relatively stable prices and downward revisions in raw material costs, the mills' profit will recover.