In 2006 China jumped over Japan, Russia and the EU25 to become the World's biggest steel exporting country. China's new pre eminence as top exporter has seen an increase across most product groups and across most export markets including Europe, North America and South America. China, with exports of 50 million tonnes in 2006 is exporting at the rate of a million tonnes a week. Indian exports grew by 23% in 2006 although Russian exports are slowing with more and more steel staying at home to feed a buoyant domestic economy.
World top Steel exporter
| Rank '06 | Rank '05 | Country | ‘06 | ‘05 | Change | Share |
| 1 | 5 | China | 49.2 | 25.7 | 91% | 17% |
| 2 | 1 | Japan | 34.2 | 31.7 | 8% | 12% |
| 3 | 3 | Russia | 31.0 | 30.4 | 2% | 11% |
| 4 | 2 | EU25 | 30.4 | 30.9 | -2% | 11% |
| 5 | 4 | Ukraine | 30.9 | 27.1 | 12% | 11% |
| 6 | 6 | S Korea | 17.3 | 15.5 | 12% | 6% |
| 7 | 8 | Turkey | 12.8 | 12.2 | 5% | 3% |
| 8 | 7 | Brazil | 12.5 | 12.4 | 1% | 4% |
| 9 | 9 | Taiwan | 10.4 | 9.0 | 16% | 3% |
| 10 | 10 | USA | 9.0 | 8.9 | 1% | 3% |
| 11 | 12 | India | 6.7 | 5.5 | 18% | 3% |
| 12 | 11 | Canada | 5.9 | 5.7 | 4% | 2% |
| Others | 34.9 | 34.9 | -2% | 12% | ||
(Iron and steel statistics Bureau)
The US and the EU15 remain the key steel importing regions to imports of around 40 million tonnes in 2006. The EU imported a record 39 million tonnes in 2006, 12 million tonnes more than in 2005, 4 million of which came from China. The USA similar to the EU also imported an extra 12 million tonnes in 2006 up by 42% on 2005 with significant increases in imports form China and Russia although the tide has now turned and US imports are currently on a downward trend. China slipped from 2nd largest importer in 2005 to 4th largest in 2006 as China became more self sufficient in steel supply. Imports into the Middle East continue to remain strong and, particularly, steel for construction into the United Arab Emirates.
World top Steel importer
| Rank '06 | Rank '05 | Country | 06 | 05 | Change | Share |
| 1 | 5 | USA | 40.4 | 28.5 | 42% | 14% |
| 2 | 1 | EU 25 | 39.9 | 26.8 | 46% | 14% |
| 3 | 3 | S Korea | 21.9 | 18.4 | 19% | 8% |
| 4 | 2 | China | 18.6 | 26.8 | -31% | 4% |
| 5 | 4 | Turkey | 11.7 | 9.8 | 19% | 4% |
| 6 | 6 | Canada | 10.7 | 9.5 | 13% | 4% |
| 7 | 8 | Thailand | 10.6 | 12.4 | -15% | 4% |
| 8 | 7 | Taiwan | 10.4 | 10.9 | -5% | 4% |
| 9 | 9 | Mexico | 7.9 | 6 | 31% | 3% |
| 10 | 10 | Iran | 7.5 | 8.3 | -10% | 3% |
| 11 | 12 | UAE | 6.5 | 5.3 | 22% | 2% |
| 12 | 11 | Vietnam | 5.9 | 5.3 | 11% | 2% |
| Others | 93.1 | 86.2 | 11% | 34% | ||
(Iron and steel statistics Bureau)
