EU–China › Iron & steel
EU–China trade in iron & steel
In May 2026, the EU exported €99M of iron & steel to China and imported €223M — a €124M deficit in this category.
The EU's iron & steel deficit with China has widened by about 11% over the past year, from €112M to €124M.
China supplied about 9% of the EU's extra-EU imports of iron & steel in May 2026.
Updated monthly · latest data May 2026
— EU exports— EU imports137 months · latest 2026-05
EU exports
€99M
EU imports
€223M
Balance
−€124M
Top sub-categories traded with China
EU exports →
- 7228Other bars and rods of alloy steel other than stainless, angles, shapes and sections of alloy steel other than stainless, n.e.s.; hollow drill bars and rods, of alloy or non-alloy steel€21M
- 7225Flat-rolled products of alloy steel other than stainless, of a width of >= 600 mm, hot-rolled or cold-rolled "cold-reduced"€21M
- 7205Granules and powders of pig iron, spiegeleisen, iron or steel (excl. granules and powders of ferro-alloys, turnings and filings of iron or steel, radioactive iron powders "isotopes" and certain low-calibre, substandard balls for ballbearings)€9.1M
- 7226Flat-rolled products of alloy steel other than stainless, of a width of < 600 mm, hot-rolled or cold-rolled "cold-reduced"€7.3M
- 7222Other bars and rods of stainless steel; angles, shapes and sections of stainless steel, n.e.s.€7.0M
← EU imports
- 7207Semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel€40M
- 7210Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width >= 600 mm, hot-rolled or cold-rolled "cold-reduced", clad, plated or coated€28M
- 7225Flat-rolled products of alloy steel other than stainless, of a width of >= 600 mm, hot-rolled or cold-rolled "cold-reduced"€23M
- 7228Other bars and rods of alloy steel other than stainless, angles, shapes and sections of alloy steel other than stainless, n.e.s.; hollow drill bars and rods, of alloy or non-alloy steel€21M
- 7217Wire of iron or non-alloy steel, in coils (excl. bars and rods)€18M
Monthly figures
| Month | EU exports | EU imports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | €99M | €223M | −€124M |
| April 2026 | €115M | €478M | −€364M |
| March 2026 | €119M | €206M | −€87M |
| February 2026 | €107M | €143M | −€36M |
| January 2026 | €89M | €418M | −€328M |
| December 2025 | €118M | €509M | −€391M |
| November 2025 | €122M | €286M | −€164M |
| October 2025 | €120M | €534M | −€414M |
| September 2025 | €115M | €255M | −€140M |
| August 2025 | €87M | €254M | −€167M |
| July 2025 | €132M | €457M | −€325M |
| June 2025 | €120M | €328M | −€208M |
| May 2025 | €125M | €237M | −€112M |
| April 2025 | €128M | €417M | −€289M |
| March 2025 | €125M | €237M | −€112M |
| February 2025 | €118M | €184M | −€65M |
| January 2025 | €112M | €501M | −€389M |
| December 2024 | €115M | €224M | −€110M |
| November 2024 | €110M | €302M | −€192M |
| October 2024 | €119M | €381M | −€263M |
| September 2024 | €116M | €255M | −€138M |
| August 2024 | €106M | €280M | −€174M |
| July 2024 | €131M | €390M | −€259M |
| June 2024 | €138M | €202M | −€64M |
EU exports, imports and balance by month — extra-EU, EU27 reporter, latest 24 months.
Related trade lanes
Source: Eurostat — Comext DS-059341 · EU27 reporter · extra-EU trade · value in EUR. Figures are indicative and may be revised; verify against Eurostat before relying on them.