China's steel exports defied global trade barriers to reach record 67.98 million tons in January-July 2025, growing 11.4% year-on-year. July alone saw 9.84 million tons exported, breaking historical decline patterns. Chinese mills leveraged $70-per-ton pricing advantages over Japanese competitors to secure spring orders. However, seasonal demand lulls & expanding anti-dumping measures from South Korea, Taiwan, & Vietnam threaten future growth momentum.