We must work hard to move towards the new and create a better future for steel.
To work hard is to move towards the new
Build a better steel future
2025 New Year’s greetings
Yao Lin, President of China Iron and Steel Industry Association
One Yuan begins again, and the sun rises in the east. In the scale of time, the power of growth is hidden. After passing through the turbulent 2024, which was a year of forging ahead, we are striding forward into a more dynamic and hopeful 2025. Here, I would like to extend my sincere New Year blessings to every Iron Man who is forging ahead on a new journey!
Along with the century-old changes in the world, global economic cycles, and profound social changes, the development of the steel industry is also full of challenges. This year, the steel industry responded calmly, was down-to-earth, and implemented comprehensive policies, stirring up new kinetic energy, new ecology, and new changes. These gratifying changes are forming a prairie fire, reshaping China’s steel landscape and illuminating the future of China’s steel.
Smooth operation and strong resilience. In the “cold winter” of steel, survival is the first priority, and overcoming “involution” is the top priority. As the steel industry enters the “stock optimization” stage, the characteristics of the industry’s “three highs and three lows” (high output, high costs, high exports, low demand, low prices, and low benefits) are becoming increasingly apparent. We have seen that with the suspension of steel production capacity replacement and other policies, many companies have gradually abandoned the inertial thinking of winning by quantity, completely, accurately and comprehensively implemented the new development concept, adhered to the “three certain and three don’t” business principles, and through benchmarking By tapping potential, reducing costs and increasing efficiency, precise management, product upgrades, and deep market penetration, we can truly achieve quality operations and profitable development, push the steel industry onto a stable track, and achieve high-quality development with strong resilience.
The trough is full of energy and stamina. Baosteel Co., Ltd.’s four top-grade oriented silicon steel products and many other high-end products made their global debut; 171 steel companies (including 1 pelletizing company) completed or partially completed ultra-low emission transformation and assessment monitoring; Baosteel Co., Ltd. Zhanjiang Iron and Steel, Shougang Jingtang, Nine companies, including HBIS Shigang, Ningbo Iron and Steel, Baoshan Base of Baosteel Co., Ltd., Bayuquan Branch of Anshan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., Shougang Qiangang Co., Ltd., Baosteel Co., Ltd. Wuhan Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., and Shandong Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. Rizhao Co., Ltd. have conducted energy efficiency benchmarking demonstrations and public announcements. ; China Iron and Steel Industry Association released low-carbon emission steel standards based on 330 million tons of crude steel production capacity emission data, launched a real estate low-carbon emission steel cooperation initiative, Baowu, Hegang, Shougang, Anshan Iron and Steel, etc. released low-carbon emission steel brands; Baowu , HBIS, Hunan Iron and Steel, China Steel Research Institute, etc. have successively released large-scale models of the steel industry, and “AI drives steel” to win again… Steel companies are not afraid of short-term fluctuations, are full of vitality in the cold winter, and are confident in high-quality development.
Break the foundation and move vigorously. This year, the iron and steel industry’s development obsession, low say in resources, and many internal circulation barriers are being “broken down” at an accelerated pace, and new industrial forms with higher quality and safety are quickly being “established”. The “Mineral Resources Law of the People’s Republic of China (Revised Draft)” was reviewed and passed, and the new version of the “Recycled Steel Raw Materials” national standard was released. The construction of the Simandou Iron Mine project has been 50% completed, and the independent and controllable industrial chain is accelerating its establishment; HBIS The Group’s Handan Iron and Steel New Area is fully operational, and Henan Iron and Steel Group has made the world’s wide and heavy plate rolling mill enter the 5600 mm In the new era of rice, the 10-million-ton steel base (Phase I) of Liuzhou Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. Fangchenggang has been fully completed, and the upgraded industrial structure has been accelerated. The new international trade pattern has accelerated its evolution. The Iron and Steel Association issued a statement expressing strong opposition to the United States’ abuse of Section 301 to increase tariffs. Dissatisfied, China Steel has accelerated its determination to break through and go overseas, creating a new pattern of high-quality development.
2024 is a “critical year” and an “important year”. The steel industry will break barriers, optimize mechanisms, activate power, add momentum, and bravely break through the reduction cycle. 2025 is the final year of the “14th Five-Year Plan”. Many important and difficult tasks such as production capacity management, extreme energy efficiency, ultra-low emissions, iron resource development plans, and inclusion in the national carbon market are “ready”. The steel industry especially needs insight and cooperation. Trends, identify risks and opportunities, adhere to the “1231” industry development goals, focus on the “232” key work promotion system, highlight key points, grasp the key, muster energy, and strive to create a new world of high-quality development.
Reasonably grasp “supply” and “demand”. Currently, the main problem in the steel industry lies on the demand side, but the real solution lies on the supply side. The steel industry must deeply understand the general requirements of the Central Economic Work Conference to “expand domestic demand in an all-round way”, actively seize new demand opportunities brought by policies such as “two new” and “double emphasis”, gradually form a fair and just new mechanism for production capacity management, and resolutely Breaking through “involutionary” competition Model, actively and orderly promote mergers and reorganizations, advance and retreat, increase and decrease, maintain and suppress, continue to deepen supply-side structural reform, and at the same time, actively expand new space for steel applications such as steel structures and material substitution, and strengthen new consumption. Achieve a high-level dynamic balance of supply and demand.
Properly coordinate the “new” and “old”. The steel industry has reached a critical period of transformation from old to new driving forces. Moving towards the new and winning with quality is the only way to become a strong steel country. Based on the needs of the country, industry trends and industry difficulties, we must strengthen basic research and key core technology research, promote scientific and technological innovation from working alone to collaborative research and development, and strengthen the launch economy; we must unswervingly strengthen digital transformation and intelligent development, Promote changes in production quality, efficiency, and power; accelerate ultra-low emission transformation projects and extreme energy efficiency projects, and promote them to become new growth points that drive investment growth, promote industrial growth, and support green transformation, so that new productivity will flourish in the steel industry surge.
Wisdom balances “inside” and “outside”. China cannot develop without the world, and the world cannot develop without China. In the current international situation of chaos and chaos, as the world’s largest steel country, we must forge a strong sense of a community with a shared future and think deeply about the image in which we will go global. Internally, we actively promote the construction of a unified national market, solve business environment problems such as local protectionism and cross-regional flow of production capacity and energy consumption indicators, improve supply quality, prioritize and better meet domestic demand, and smooth internal circulation; externally, we are promising We have a position that resonates with the international market, implements the export principle of “encouraging high-end, restricting low-end, and cracking down on illegal” exports, expands and strengthens chains, and optimizes external circulation. Through “cultivation both internally and externally”, a new development pattern of positive interaction and mutual promotion is established.
In 2025, we must unswervingly implement the party’s line, principles and policies, actively respond to the country’s call, and thoroughly implement the innovation-driven development strategy and sustainable development strategy. We must strengthen party building, improve our political standing, deeply understand the decisive significance of the “two establishments”, strengthen the “four consciousnesses”, strengthen the “four self-confidences”, resolutely achieve the “two safeguards”, and ensure that China’s steel industry Always move forward in the right political direction. We must deeply understand the relevant spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference, adhere to the general work tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability and promoting stability, make full use of the policy dividends brought by the new national policies to the steel industry, adhere to integrity and innovation, establish first and then break. System integration and coordination will help win the final battle of the “14th Five-Year Plan” and the battle for high-quality development in the steel industry.
”This place can withstand the storm, and the future is even brighter.” What once led us to success will surely lead us to continue to succeed. We firmly believe that China Iron and Steel will continue to move, explore and move towards the new in a new round of reform and adjustment periods. Let us work together towards a brighter tomorrow!
