Trade
Galvanized Steel Exports Rebound in September as Southeast Asian Demand Holds Firm
Oct 24, 2026 · Brynick Newsroom, Ningbo
China exported 1.1923 million tonnes of galvanized steel sheets in September 2026, up 21.32% month on month but down 2.77% year on year, according to Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), citing Chinese customs data. Total exports from January to September reached 9.9816 million tonnes, down 4.43% year on year. The figures point to a monthly recovery in shipments after a softer August, even though the year-to-date total remains below last year's level.
By destination, the Philippines was the largest buyer in September, taking 142,000 tonnes, followed by Thailand with 119,000 tonnes, or 9.97% of China's total galvanized steel sheet exports, and Israel with 62,000 tonnes, or 5.18%, SMM reported. SMM attributed the rebound to recovering demand in several Southeast Asian countries, together with increased shipments to Middle Eastern buyers such as Israel and Iraq. It also noted that Indonesia's Anti-Dumping Committee launched an anti-dumping investigation into galvanized steel sheets from China on September 15, and that some exporters accelerated order fulfilment and concentrated shipments in the short term, contributing to higher exports to Indonesia in September.
For October, SMM expects China's galvanized steel sheet exports to remain relatively resilient, supported by sustained demand in Southeast Asia, where export orders are expected to retain some strength. At the same time, it cautions that anti-dumping measures in multiple overseas markets, combined with the lack of a sustained recovery in Middle Eastern demand, are likely to limit further growth in overall volumes. A significant increase in exports is therefore unlikely, SMM said. That October outlook is a forecast based on market collection and evaluation, not a reported result, and it should be read as such.
For buyers of galvanized wire and steel storage products — including wire partitions, wire containers, wire decking and other storage equipment — the September data underline two practical points. First, Southeast Asia remains a key source of demand for galvanized sheet, the base material for many coated wire products. Second, trade-remedy cases can change shipment timing even when they do not immediately change total volumes, as the September acceleration ahead of Indonesia's investigation illustrates. Buyers planning fourth-quarter orders should therefore confirm current specifications, lead times and landed costs with their supplier, rather than assuming September's shipment pace will continue unchanged.
Source: Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), "[SMM Analysis] Indonesia's Anti-Dumping Probe on Chinese Galvanized Steel: What to Expect for China's October Exports?", published October 20, 2026, based on Chinese customs data.
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