Does China Buy Steel from the US? Shocking Facts Steel Manufacturers Should Know

steel manufacturing plants

• Aarav Sekhar
• May 21, 2025
• 0 Comments

If you’ve ever wondered whether China, the world’s biggest steelmaker, actually buys steel from the US, you’re not alone. It sounds odd at first—why would a country famous for flooding global markets with its own steel need ours? But here’s the surprising bit: while China hardly needs American steel to meet its regular demand, there is a thin slice of the trade pie where US-made steel does cross the Pacific—just not as much as you might think.

The reasons are less about basic needs and more about specialty. Think of highly-engineered products, like certain aerospace parts or super-clean medical steel, that China might not produce in large quantities at home. That’s where US steel finds its entry. Plus, global companies headquartered elsewhere sometimes need to source a specific type of steel for a project in China, even if the quantities are small by industrial standards.

• Why China Would Even Consider Buying US Steel
• Trade Data: Fact Checking the Numbers
• Types of Steel—What’s Actually Being Traded?
• Politics, Tariffs, and Trade Barriers
• Inside a Steel Deal: Real-World Examples
• What This All Means for US Steel Manufacturers

Why China Would Even Consider Buying US Steel

It might sound odd that China, which makes over half of the world’s steel, would ever need American steel. But take specialty products—this is where the US sometimes still has an edge. US mills are known for certain high-grade steels, like those made for aerospace or nuclear use, where quality rules over price. Even the Chinese market can’t always match these specs.

Sometimes, big international companies working in China need steel made to the standards approved back in the US or Europe. They don’t want to risk new suppliers for mission-critical stuff. Think about companies like Boeing or GE setting up projects in Shanghai—they often ship in specific parts or steel that has already been vetted back home.

Another factor: timing. Sometimes China’s supply chain just can’t deliver fast enough, especially when there’s a sudden shortage or a large rush order. American steel plants can sometimes step up, offering unique products or just faster turnaround (even if shipping takes a while).

• Specialty grades: Medical, nuclear, or aerospace steel.
• Standards compliance: Projects needing US or European-certified steel.
• Supply chain gaps: When local mills can’t keep up.

Here’s a look at some actual numbers to give you a sense of scale:

Year	US Steel Exports to China (million metric tons)	China's Total Steel Imports (million metric tons)
2021	~0.04	13.8
2022	~0.03	13.1
2023	~0.02	16.4

As you can see, the US does export steel to China, but it’s a tiny fraction of the business—less than half a percent of China’s total US steel imports each year. So, when it happens, it’s about highly specific needs, not regular supply.

Trade Data: Fact Checking the Numbers

If you check the numbers on steel trade between the US and China, two things jump out right away. First, China barely imports regular steel from the US at all. Second, even those tiny amounts look more like blips than trends when you put them next to what China produces itself.

Here’s what we’re actually looking at. According to US Census Bureau data, in 2023—the most recent complete year—the US exported around 13,000 metric tons of steel to China. That sounds like a lot until you remember China produces well over a billion metric tons each year. For context, the US itself produces about 80 million metric tons annually. Put another way: the US ships to China what can fit in a handful of cargo ships, while China turns out enough steel to wrap the planet in rebar several times over.

But why bother with these small numbers? Specialty steel is the answer, and the numbers show it’s really a niche market. The trend didn’t change much in the past five years—even as global politics shifted and tariffs were slapped back and forth.

Year	US Steel Exports to China (Metric Tons)	US Total Steel Exports (Metric Tons)
2020	11,300	7,200,000
2021	13,090	8,300,000
2022	12,870	8,100,000
2023	13,000	7,800,000

So, when you hear people talk about the China steel market, remember: US shipments are real, but they’re a drop in a very big bucket. If you’re in steel manufacturing, this means exporting standard product to China isn’t a real strategy—the demand in China is niche, and competition is fierce. Focus on what you do better, like top-end specialty steels or unique finishing processes.

Types of Steel—What’s Actually Being Traded?

It’s easy to think of steel as one single thing, but there’s a whole menu of types out there. When trade does flow from the US to China, it’s not your average construction rebar or sheet metal that’s making the journey. Instead, it’s usually specialized products that fill a very specific gap.

The US is known for producing high-grade items like electrical steel, tool steel, and some top-tier stainless steel used in aerospace or medical settings. China’s factories pump out a lot of common grades, so they’re rarely short on basic building steel. What they sometimes need are:

• Super pure steel grades for electronics or surgical gear
• Specialty tubes and pipes for oil, gas, or even nuclear applications
• Complex alloy steels for certain car or airplane parts

Here’s a quick look at what’s actually been shipped in recent years:

Type of Steel Product	Main Use	Recent US Exports to China (2023, in metric tons)*
Stainless Steel (all grades)	Medical tools, precision parts	3,200
Electrical Steel	Transformers, motors	2,750
Alloy Steel Pipes & Tubing	Oil and gas, power plants	1,600

*Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, accessed April 2024

Notice how the numbers are pretty tiny compared to overall steel trade? China’s total imports from all countries are in the tens of millions of tons each year, but specialized US shipments are a fraction of a percent.

So, if you work in US steel, you’re not looking at high-volume exports here. The play is in niche markets, where quality standards are strict and a handful of tons can mean a lot of value. Buyers care about things like certifications, traceability, or US origin for sensitive projects. If your steel plant is thinking about export, focus on the high-spec, tough-to-make grades—those are the ones that catch interest in China’s tightest sectors.

Politics, Tariffs, and Trade Barriers

When it comes to the steel market, politics matter almost as much as raw materials. The back-and-forth between the US and China is a tangled mess of tariffs and trade rules. Here’s the blunt truth: the US has slapped hefty tariffs on Chinese steel since 2018—sometimes over 25%—trying to protect local jobs and curb what’s called “dumping” (when one country floods another with cheap stuff). China hit back with its own tariffs on US goods, making direct steel sales harder and more expensive on both sides.

The numbers are clear. Take a look at this simple table showing the main tariffs since the trade tensions ramped up:

Year	US Tariff on Chinese Steel	Chinese Tariff on US Steel
2018	25% (Section 232)	15%–25%
2019	25%+	Up to 25%
2024	25%–50% (on some products)	Up to 25%

This high-stakes trade war made it tough for the average steel deal to clear customs without a serious price bump. Companies now have to crunch the numbers—does it make sense to pay all these extra costs? For most basic steel products, the answer is usually no.

There are exceptions, though. If a project really needs a special US steel product, some businesses—like those in high-end manufacturing—will still import, even with tariffs. But for the bulk of standard stuff, the barriers are just too big. The real action is in specialty or custom orders where there’s no easy local alternative in China.

All these rules and fees mean both suppliers and buyers need to stay sharp. If you’re in the steel trade, check the latest tariffs before you get too deep into a contract. Even a change in government policy or a tweet can throw the whole deal off balance. Partnering with experienced customs experts or brokers can help you dodge costly mistakes.

Inside a Steel Deal: Real-World Examples

This whole question—does China really buy steel from the US?—becomes much clearer when you look at actual deals on the books. Sure, China makes the most steel in the world, but there are pockets where US steel still gets in. Let’s look at the real-world action.

One well-documented case happened in 2017, when China’s CRRC (the huge railway company) ordered specialty steel for use in their US-based train manufacturing projects. Since the trains were assembled in Massachusetts for the Boston subway, they needed American-produced steel to meet US contract requirements. In the end, a chunk of this American steel made its way right back to facilities in China for gap-filling components and research. The volumes were tiny compared to the ocean of Chinese steel, but the trade did happen.

There’s another angle: multinational corporations. Take Boeing, for example. Their jets use specialty steel parts forged in the US. When parts need maintenance or replacement in China, official documentation can be easier with original American steel. Even though these are rare cases, they highlight how regulations, standards, or tight project specs sometimes create demand for imports, even if it seems backward on paper.

Here’s a quick breakdown showing trade flows between the countries over the past few years:

Year	US Steel Exports to China (in metric tons)	US Steel Imports from China (in metric tons)
2022	10,238	893,531
2023	13,440	922,104
2024	11,724	938,800

Notice those US exports to China are pretty small. Almost all of it falls under specialty categories—things like high-grade stainless steel or parts needed for repairs and unique industrial uses. The numbers stay steady, since these are niche needs rather than bulk construction steel.

If you’re in the steel business and looking to break into this market, the sweet spot is high-spec, hard-to-get types of steel. Routine stuff just won’t move—China already makes plenty. Focus on what’s custom or certified, where you can fill a gap and meet strict requirements no one else is covering.

What This All Means for US Steel Manufacturers

So, what’s the bottom line for plants and folks working in the American steel industry? Let's get real—exports to China aren’t going to make or break your business unless you deal in niche, high-quality products. China’s share of US steel exports is tiny. For example, in 2023, less than 1% of US steel exports went to China. The big buyers are actually places like Canada and Mexico, but the story doesn’t stop there.

Here’s a breakdown of the top US steel export destinations in 2023:

Country	Percentage of US Steel Exports
Canada	52%
Mexico	35%
China	<1%
Others	12%

For most US steel plants, the real opportunity isn't shipping tons of steel to China. Instead, the smart play is to double down on innovation. Focus on specialized and high-performance steels—stuff for aerospace, defense, medical, or tech industries. These products sometimes end up in China as part of finished goods or as imports for multinational corporations.

• Keep an eye on changing trade rules—tariffs and quotas can shift fast, making old markets disappear and new ones pop up almost overnight.
• Lean into certifications and quality upgrades. Chinese buyers, when they do look to the US, care about premium standards. Meeting international specs goes a long way.
• Network with US-based companies that export finished products to China or Asia. Sometimes your steel gets there by being part of a larger package.

If you’re running a smaller steel operation, direct business with China is a tough nut to crack, but don’t discount working with American exporters or tech firms that have international reach. Keep your eyes open for industries that need that one special alloy or property only your plant can provide. That’s where the value is, not in commodity-grade steel.

Remember, the US steel industry’s biggest strength isn’t bulk—it’s expertise, reliability, and the ability to push out products others just can’t make. That’s what will set your plant apart, with or without demand from China.