Reference News Network, March 11 report: On March 9, the website of India's BigMint company published an article titled "Two Sessions: China's 2026 Policy Roadmap Reshapes the Stainless Steel Market." The following is a compilation:
"MySteel Global" pointed out that the 2026 government work report released at China's annual National People's Congress meeting on the 5th set the tone for a new round of demand expansion in the stainless steel industry.
"MySteel" latest analysis shows that the policy framework centered on developing new productive forces, strengthening people's livelihood security, and promoting green transformation is expected to support steady growth in stainless steel demand.
China is prioritizing the development of emerging industries such as integrated circuits, aerospace, biopharmaceuticals, and low-altitude economy, while advancing future industries such as future energy, quantum technology, embodied intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G.
These high-end industries have strict standards for material performance, directly driving growth in demand for high-value-added, low-substitutable high-end special stainless steel.
At the same time, the government work report pointed out that in 2025, China's new energy vehicle production will exceed 16 million units. In 2026, new energy vehicle sales are expected to reach 19 million units, an increase of 15.2% year-on-year. The continuously expanding market will continue to support the demand for automotive-grade stainless steel.
China will arrange 250 billion yuan in ultra-long-term special treasury bonds to support the implementation of the old-to-new consumer goods replacement campaign; at the same time, it will also arrange 75.5 billion yuan in central budgetary investment and 80 billion yuan in ultra-long-term special treasury bond funds for the construction of the "two major" (national major strategies implementation and key field safety capabilities - note from the website). Multiple channels of financial investment are expected to simultaneously activate stainless steel demand in the consumption and infrastructure sectors.
In the consumption sector, the old-to-new replacement policy is expected to promote the recovery of the stainless steel-intensive home appliance market, benefiting the demand for 200-series and 300-series stainless steel cold-rolled plates.
For the infrastructure side, urban underground pipeline construction and water conservancy projects will use more stainless steel pipes and related structural components, further broadening the application scope of stainless steel in municipal engineering fields.
The government work report proposed cultivating the hydrogen energy industry and establishing a national low-carbon transition fund.
The hydrogen energy industry chain brings significant market opportunities for the stainless steel industry. Liquid hydrogen storage tanks generally use 316L stainless steel, while hydrogen refueling equipment requires stainless steel materials that are resistant to hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion.
Policies related to China's rural revitalization and new urbanization construction will further broaden the fundamentals of domestic stainless steel demand.
Rural drinking water safety projects promote the use of stainless steel pipes in rural areas. At the same time, modern agricultural facility construction such as greenhouses and livestock farming equipment is also generating incremental demand for stainless steel.
Urban population inflow is expected to drive the development of the housing construction market, increasing the demand for stainless steel decoration materials and related products.
The government work report proposed comprehensively using measures such as capacity control, standard leadership, price enforcement, and quality supervision to thoroughly rectify "cutthroat competition." This is a positive signal for China's stainless steel industry.
"MySteel" analysis pointed out that leading stainless steel enterprises with advantages in technology, brand, and scale are expected to further increase their market share. (Translation by Guo Jun)
On January 29, workers at Jiangsu Tangliuxingdong Stainless Steel Co., Ltd. in Dainan Town, Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province, were testing products in the production workshop. (Xinhua News Agency)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7615961589069464100/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.