📈Why are everyone eyeing the UAE steel market now?
According to Mysteel/Custeel data:
▶️ China exported 5.48 million tons of steel to the UAE in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 46.1%.
▶️ 1.958 million tons were exported from January to April 2025, a further year-on-year increase of 13%.
▶️ The UAE has become China's third-largest steel export destination!
More than Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran!
🏗️Why is the UAE so short of steel?
Emsteel, the leading UAE steel company, predicts:
✅ Steel demand will increase another 10% in 2025, marking two consecutive years of significant growth.
✅ The new Dubai Airport project alone will require 2 million tons of rebar.
✅ With the subway, high-end real estate, and manufacturing all underway, demand for rebar, hot-rolled plate, and cold-rolled coil has skyrocketed.
📌 Even UAE steel mills are struggling, increasing monthly production from 260,000 tons to 400,000 tons, and it's still not enough.
Which Chinese steel products are selling best in the UAE?
🔩 Rebar: 40%-50% of the local market share
🧵 Wire rod: 20%-25% of the local market share
🧱 Sheet metal (hot-rolled/galvanized): 15%-20% of the local market share
🧊 Cold-rolled coil and stainless steel pipe: 10%-15% of the local market share
📌Industrial materials such as cold-rolled and stainless steel pipe have seen their export share increase from 10% to 25% in recent years.
They are supplied to key projects such as Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Dubai Manufacturing Park.
