China’s Steel Exports Surge to Record Despite Global Pushback

China’s steel exports surged to an all-time high in December, rounding off a record year in which overseas shipments defied mounting trade pressures and expectations of a slowdown.

Exports of steel products climbed to 11.3 million tons last month, surpassing the last peak hit in 2015, according to Chinese customs data on Wednesday. That pushed annual shipments 7.5% higher to a best-ever 119 million tons.