China Introduces Export License Requirements for Certain Steel Products
China’s Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs have announced new export control measures affecting certain steel products.
Starting January 1, 2026, selected steel items will be subject to export license management.
This means exporters will need to obtain an export license before shipping these products overseas.
If your company exports steel products from China, you should pay attention to three key points:
More steel products are now subject to export licensing
Around 300 steel products have been added to the export license catalogue, covering carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, pipes, fittings, and related products.
License application required
Exporters shipping the listed steel products are required to apply for an export license before export.
According to the notice, the application must be supported by:
- the export contract, and
- a product quality inspection certificate issued by the manufacturer.
Without an approved export license, the relevant steel products cannot be legally exported from China.
Issuing authorities vary
The authority responsible for issuing the export license depends on the company’s registration location and ownership structure.
- Enterprises supervised by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) and registered in Beijing have their export licenses issued by the License Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce.
- For all other enterprises, including private companies and foreign-invested enterprises, export licenses are issued by the competent provincial-level commerce authority or by the commerce authority of an authorised sub-provincial city where the company is registered.
The notice explicitly authorizes the commerce authorities of the following sub-provincial cities to issue export licenses: Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin, Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Xi’an.
These rules apply to both Chinese companies and foreign-invested enterprises exporting from China.
Export license requirements can directly affect:
- Shipment timelines
- Contract execution
- Customs clearance
- Compliance risk
Companies that do not check whether their products fall within the controlled list may face delays or regulatory issues.
See the Full List of Steel Products Under Export License Control
To make this easier, we have prepared the complete catalogue of steel products subject to export license management in English.
If you are unsure whether your products are affected, it is best to review the list early and assess any impact on your export plans for 2026.
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