1. China's cumulative stainless steel imports reached 1.5192 million tons and exports totaled 5.0311 million tons in 2025.

In December 2025, China's stainless steel imports amounted to 145,000 tons, marking a month-on-month increase of 32,900 tons (29.32% growth). year-on-year increase of 0.27 million tons, up 1.91%. Among these, China imported 121,400 tons of stainless steel from Indonesia, a month-on-month increase of 34,200 tons, up 39.2%; year-on-year increase of 10,100 tons, up 9.1%. Of this, hot-rolled imports totaled 7,300 tons, a month-on-month surge of 238.6%, but a year-on-year decline of 64.7%; Cold-rolled imports reached 103,000 tons, up 17,800 tons month-on-month (21% increase) and 24,600 tons year-on-year (31.4% increase). Slab imports totaled 4,700 tons, while billet and other steel billet imports amounted to 6,500 tons.

From January to December 2025, China's total stainless steel imports reached 1.5192 million tons, down 358,400 tons or 19.09% year-on-year. Among these, China imported 1.2258 million tons of stainless steel from Indonesia, a decrease of 338,400 tons or 21.6% compared to the previous year. Specifically, hot-rolled imports totaled 155,000 metric tons, down 61,900 metric tons or 28.5% year-on-year; cold-rolled imports reached 905,700 metric tons, up 90,600 metric tons or 11.1% year-on-year; slab imports amounted to 65,400 metric tons, down 91,900 metric tons or 58.4% year-on-year; and imports of billets and other steel products totaled 94,700 metric tons, down 273,500 metric tons or 74.3% year-on-year.

In December 2025, China's total stainless steel exports reached 485,000 metric tons, up 79,700 metric tons or 19.65% month-on-month, and increased by 19,300 metric tons or 4.15% year-on-year.

From January to December 2025, China's total stainless steel exports reached 5.0311 million tons, down 13,100 tons year-on-year, a decrease of 0.26%.

In December 2025, net exports totaled 342,700 tons, up 46,800 tons month-on-month, an increase of 16%; and up 16,600 tons year-on-year, an increase of 5.1%.

From January to December 2025, net exports totaled 3.5119 million tons, up 372,400 tons year-on-year, representing an 11.9% increase.

2. China's nickel ore imports reached 42.2632 million tons in 2025, marking a 10.94% year-on-year increase.

In December 2025, China imported 1.9928 million tons of nickel ore, a decrease of 1.3466 million tons (40.33%) month-on-month, but an increase of 473,100 tons (31.13%) year-on-year. This included 1.9612 million tons of laterite nickel ore and 31,600 tons of sulfide nickel ore. Imports of laterite nickel ore from the Philippines totaled 1.6087 million tons, accounting for 80.72% of the month's imports. This represented a decrease of 1.4126 million tons month-on-month, a decline of 46.75%, but an increase of 411,600 tons year-on-year, a rise of 34.39%.

From January to December 2025, China's total nickel ore imports reached 42.2632 million tons, an increase of 4.1673 million tons or 10.94% year-on-year. Of this, imports from the Philippines totaled 36.5554 million tons, up 2.0241 million tons or 5.86% year-on-year.

3. China's total ferronickel imports in 2025 reached 11.149 million tons, marking a year-on-year increase of 24.2%.

In December 2025, China's ferronickel imports totaled 996,000 tons, up 101,000 tons month-on-month (11.2%) and 100 tons year-on-year (0.1%). Imports from Indonesia reached 975,000 metric tons, up 101,000 metric tons month-on-month (11.6%) and 5,000 metric tons year-on-year (0.5%).

From January to December 2025, China's total ferronickel imports reached 11.149 million tons, up 2.172 million tons (24.2%) year-on-year. Of this, imports from Indonesia totaled 10.873 million tons, increasing by 2.209 million tons (25.5%) year-on-year.

4. China's refined nickel imports totaled 231,200 metric tons in 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 137.90%.

In December 2025, China imported 23,400 metric tons of refined nickel, marking a month-on-month increase of 10,724 metric tons (84.64%) and a year-on-year rise of 5,100 metric tons (27.88%). Of this, imports from Russia totaled 12,400 metric tons, surging 1,334.38% month-on-month and growing 31.36% year-on-year.

From January to December 2025, China imported a total of 231,200 metric tons of refined nickel, marking an increase of 134,144.254 metric tons or 137.90% year-on-year. Among these imports, refined nickel from Russia reached 87,900 metric tons, up 89.86% compared to the previous year.

5. China's total chromite ore imports in 2025 reached 23.7467 million tons, marking a year-on-year increase of 13.45%.

In December 2025, China imported 2.8247 million tons of chromite ore, marking a month-on-month increase of 16.37% and a year-on-year increase of 41.81%. Imports from South Africa reached 2.239 million tons, up 11.54% month-on-month and 36.59% year-on-year; Imports from Zimbabwe reached 281,500 metric tons, a month-on-month increase of 62.25% and a year-on-year increase of 60.86%. Imports from Turkey amounted to 119,400 metric tons, a month-on-month increase of 15.92% and a year-on-year increase of 36.15%.

From January to December 2025, China's cumulative chromite imports totaled 23.7467 million tons, an increase of 2.8123 million tons or 13.45% year-on-year. Among these: imports from Zimbabwe reached 628,800 tons, up 48.27% year-on-year; imports from Turkey totaled 853,500 tons, down 20.42% year-on-year.

6. China's cumulative ferrochrome imports in 2025 reached 2.4458 million tons, down 33.13% year-on-year.

In December 2025, China's imports of high-carbon ferrochrome reached 126,900 metric tons, an increase of 993 metric tons month-on-month (0.79%) but a decrease of 51.12% year-on-year. Imports from South Africa totaled 1,100 metric tons, down 3,000 metric tons month-on-month and 139,200 metric tons year-on-year; Imports from Kazakhstan reached 89,900 tons, up 7,300 tons month-on-month and 6,200 tons year-on-year; imports from India totaled 10,500 tons, up 2,000 tons month-on-month but down 2,800 tons year-on-year; imports from Zimbabwe amounted to 22,300 tons, down 6,900 tons month-on-month but up 6,200 tons year-on-year.

From January to December 2025, China's cumulative imports of high-carbon ferrochrome totaled 2.4458 million tons, down 1.2117 million tons or 33.13% year-on-year. Imports from South Africa reached 956,000 tons, down 863,700 tons or 47.46% year-on-year; imports from Kazakhstan totaled 1.0318 million tons, down 205,500 tons year-on-year, a decrease of 16.61%; imports from India reached 131,400 tons, down 62,000 tons year-on-year, a decrease of 32.06%; imports from Zimbabwe amounted to 265,600 tons, down 74,800 tons year-on-year, a decrease of 21.97%.

7. China's cumulative manganese ore imports in 2025 reached 32.783 million tons, marking an 11.70% year-on-year increase.

In December 2025, China imported 3.2742 million tons of manganese ore, representing a 24.26% month-on-month increase and a 28.27% year-on-year increase. Of this total: - Imports from South Africa reached 1.7511 million tons, up 13.15% month-on-month and 46.97% year-on-year. - Imports from Australia totaled 578,900 tons, surging 55.78% month-on-month and 1,634.14% year-on-year.

From January to December 2025, China's cumulative manganese ore imports reached 32.783 million tons, marking an 11.70% year-on-year increase. Among these: Cumulative imports from South Africa totaled 17.4208 million tons, up 9.34% year-on-year. Cumulative imports from Australia reached 3.5823 million tons, up 67.06% year-on-year.

8. China's cumulative scrap stainless steel imports reached 120,100 metric tons in 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 23.48%.

In December 2025, China imported 11,800 metric tons of scrap stainless steel, representing a month-on-month decrease of 23.80% but a year-on-year increase of 20.57%.

From January to December 2025, China's total imports of scrap stainless steel reached 120,100 metric tons, marking a year-on-year increase of 23.48%.

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