Preface: Export has become an important channel to alleviate the domestic oversupply of stainless steel. In 2024, domestic stainless steel exports will significantly increase, with exports to many regions showing growth, with exports to the United States increasing by 18.7% year-on-year. Since 2025, the United States has repeatedly imposed tariffs on imported goods, which will inevitably affect the export of stainless steel materials and products. After a series of tariffs imposed by the United States, how much has the export tariff on domestic stainless steel materials and products increased, and how much has it affected?

1、 Tax rates related to domestic stainless steel materials and products in the United States

As of 2024, the United States imposes a 25% tariff on the import of stainless steel products from China, including other woven fabrics, sinks and basins, and circular belts for machines. Stainless steel dining tables, kitchens, or other household appliances and their parts are not subject to import tariffs.

In May 2024, the United States announced the imposition of tariffs on some goods from China, increasing the tax on most imports of stainless steel from 7.5% to 25%, which will take effect on August 1, 2024. This time, stainless steel products were not involved.

On February 4, 2025, the United States imposed its first 10% tariff on imported goods from China.

On February 10th, the United States decided to impose a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum products (including stainless steel flanges, stainless steel threaded elbows, bends, welded fittings and other pipe fittings, stainless steel kitchenware, other woven fabrics made of stainless steel, sinks and basins, machine straps, etc.);

On March 4th, the United States imposed a second 10% tariff on Chinese imports.

On April 2nd, the United States announced the so-called "equivalent tariffs" by setting a "minimum benchmark tariff" of 10% for all trading partners and imposing higher tariffs on multiple trading partners, including a 34% equivalent tariff on China. According to a White House document, steel, aluminum, and automobiles that have already been subject to tariffs will not face so-called 'equivalent tariffs'.

2、 The direct impact of US tariffs on domestic stainless steel exports

According to statistics, in 2024, the export volume of domestic stainless steel materials to the United States is about 103400 tons, an increase of 16300 tons year-on-year, with a growth rate of 18.7%. In January and February 2025, the quantity is about 16000 tons, an increase of 1700 tons year-on-year, with a growth rate of 12.2%.

Due to the anti-dumping (63.86% -76.64%) and countervailing duties (75.6% or 190.71%) imposed by the United States on cold-rolled stainless steel coils from China, the proportion of domestic stainless steel exports to the United States has always been relatively low, accounting for about 2%.

By 2025, after a series of tariffs imposed by the United States, the tariff on stainless steel exported domestically to the United States has reached 45%, which is 20% higher than in 2024.

The increase in import tariffs, coupled with previous trade barriers, will further affect the amount of domestic stainless steel exports to the United States, but this amount is relatively small and the impact is limited.

3、 The direct impact of US tariffs on domestic exports of stainless steel products

According to statistics, in 2024, the export volume of domestic stainless steel products (including other woven fabrics made of stainless steel, sinks and basins, circular belts for machines, stainless steel dining tables, kitchen or other household appliances and their parts) to the United States will be about 238800 tons, an increase of 49900 tons or 26.4% year-on-year. In January and February 2025, the quantity is about 35400 tons, an increase of 5100 tons year-on-year, with a growth rate of 16.9%.

After the United States imposed tariffs, it had a significant impact on the export of these four types of stainless steel products. Especially stainless steel kitchenware. The main export destination for domestic stainless steel kitchenware is the United States, accounting for about 20%.

In 2024, the United States will impose zero import tariffs on Chinese stainless steel dining tables, kitchens, or other household appliances and their parts. According to Mysteel statistics, the export volume to the United States is about 205000 tons, an increase of 47000 tons year-on-year, with a growth rate of 29.8%. In January and February 2025, the quantity is about 30000 tons, an increase of 5000 tons year-on-year, with a growth rate of 19.8%. After the United States imposes taxes, it will inevitably affect the export of this portion domestically.

In addition, among the products exported by China to the United States, the total export value of electronic and electrical machinery, as well as other mechanical fields, accounts for about 43% of the total domestic export value to the United States. This is also an important downstream industry of the steel industry, covering various types of mechanical equipment and household appliances.

Faced with a 34% tariff increase, coupled with the previous two 10% tariff increases, the 54% tariff has a huge impact on the export of downstream products in the stainless steel industry. At present, the profit level of equipment manufacturing related industries is relatively low, and the vast majority of industries are unable to bear it. The entire manufacturing industry will suffer a significant impact from tariffs, and export pressure will also significantly increase.

At the same time, in 2025, the United States will strengthen its scrutiny of shipments below $800, which may to some extent affect the export of small commodities through cross-border e-commerce. If the declared value exceeds the standard, tariffs and commodity handling fees need to be paid to further compress profits.

Overall, the export volume of domestic stainless steel materials to the United States has been at a relatively low level due to the high anti-dumping and countervailing duties, and the impact is relatively limited. However, for downstream products of stainless steel such as machinery, kitchenware, household appliances, etc., the impact of this tariff is significant. The weakening of the competitive advantage in the export of downstream stainless steel products domestically may lead to the loss of some export orders. If a portion of the tax rate is borne, the export profits of the enterprise will be further compressed, and the export situation is not optimistic.