China’s Exports of Semi-Finished Steel Surge by More Than 300%

China has more than quadrupled its exports of steel in semi-finished form so far this year, adding to an unprecedented flood of the metal even after a wave of trade actions.

Semi-finished steels are intermediate products that are reworked before sale to industries from cars to construction or consumer goods. “Semis” such as steel billet are rarely more than a tiny portion of total exports, but that’s changing as domestic pressures mount and as other countries try to restrict flows of the more typical products.