MYSTEEL: China returning rigour to steel export licensing

Sixteen years after relaxing the requirement, China's reinstatement of an export licensing system for all stainless steel products and other selected steel items, effective from January 1, 2026, signals a pivotal shift in industrial policy.

Announced jointly by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and the General Administration of Customs (GACC) on December 12, the move reintroduces a key regulatory framework after requiring exporters to secure licences based on formal export contracts and manufacturer-issued quality inspection certificates. The central government had stepped up its crackdown