On July 14, 2025, the "Rare Earth Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Technology Innovation and Industrialization" scientific and technological achievement evaluation meeting, hosted by the Chinese Society of Rare Earths, was successfully held in Beijing. The meeting conducted an in-depth assessment of the project achievements jointly completed by Shanghai University, Shanghai University (Zhejiang) High-End Equipment Basic Parts Material Research Institute, Qinhuangdao Baigong Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., Guangxi Shenglong Metallurgy Co., Ltd., and Sinosteel Shijiazhuang Engineering Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd.

The evaluation committee, led by Academician Gan Yong with participation from many industry authoritative experts, pointed out two critical challenges facing China’s steel and rare earth industries: First, although China’s crude steel output accounts for over half of the global total, carbon steel and low-alloy steel are prone to corrosion, causing staggering annual economic losses. Second, transforming China’s abundant rare earth resources (such as lanthanum and cerium) into technological and industrial advantages remains a key research hurdle.

Against this backdrop, Professor Dong Han’s team from Shanghai University innovatively applied rare earth elements to carbon steel. The team revealed the comprehensive mechanism by which rare earths (lanthanum and cerium) enhance corrosion resistance: modifying inclusion properties, reducing grain boundary energy, and promoting the formation of a protective rust layer (α-FeOOH). In terms of processes, they precisely controlled the oxygen-sulfur ratio in steel and developed a high-stability, high-yield (≥70%) rare earth addition technology, solving issues like continuous casting nodulation and uneven rare earth distribution. This enabled 29 consecutive stable casts with rare earth content ranging from 100 to 200ppm.

The technology has been widely applied to large-scale production of coils, medium plates, wires, angle steels, seamless pipes, and rebars. Rare earth-alloyed carbon steels such as Q235, Q355, and HRB400E have seen their corrosion resistance improved by 30-50%, with some reaching the level of traditional weathering steel. When rare earths are combined with traditional weathering elements (Cr, Ni, Cu), the usage of the latter can be reduced by approximately 30%. Industrial demonstrations show that the technology eliminates production obstacles, reduces carbon emissions per ton of steel (compared to hot-dip galvanized steel), and has been validated in projects such as Guangxi expressway guardrails, Hebei 5G communication towers, Shandong photovoltaic brackets, and steel structures, demonstrating significant promotion value.

The evaluation committee unanimously recognized the achievement as internationally leading, providing a robust solution for rare earth resource utilization and green transformation in the steel industry.

Recently, Benxi Iron and Steel Group (a subsidiary of Angang Group) successfully trial-produced a new Grade 50 carbon steel product, marking a key step in high-quality carbon steel production. As a medium-carbon steel, Grade 50 offers balanced strength, hardness, and toughness, making it ideal for quenched and tempered structural components. However, its sensitivity to high-temperature rolling—prone to strip cracking—requires extremely precise production processes and equipment.

To achieve successful rolling, Benxi Iron and Steel coordinated resources and established a technical research team at its Plate Cold Rolling Plant. The team studied the material’s characteristics in depth, focusing on roll diameter matching, process parameters, and tension control. Through repeated simulations and data collection, they optimized unit parameters and successfully produced qualified Grade 50 carbon steel after processes including silicon steel pickling, ultra-thin single-stand rolling, and bell-type annealing. This trial 积累 valuable experience for large-scale high-quality carbon steel production and enhanced Benxi Iron and Steel’s market competitiveness.

Chongqing Iron and Steel has made notable progress in product diversification, with its hot-rolled coil line successfully trialing over 400 tons of 65Mn high-quality carbon structural steel strip, meeting all performance, shape, and quality requirements. As a high-carbon steel, 65Mn offers excellent hardness, strength, wear resistance, and processability—its hardness and wear resistance improve significantly after heat treatment, while its annealed state provides moderate hardness, making it widely used in manufacturing tools, springs, machine parts, and auto components.

Leveraging China Baowu’s new product R&D platform and practical experience, Chongqing Iron and Steel’s hot-rolled coil R&D team collaborated closely with end-users. They conducted in-depth research on composition control, smelting temperature, alloy structure, residual elements, and smelting-rolling processes, formulating detailed production plans and strictly controlling key process steps. Technical personnel supervised the entire steelmaking and rolling process, optimizing parameters and monitoring surface quality. Inspection results showed 100% qualification rate for 65Mn products, with all technical indicators meeting standards. This success expands the coverage of high-quality carbon structural steels in Chongqing Iron and Steel’s hot-rolled coil line, enriches its product portfolio, and strengthens the market competitiveness of its “Sanfeng” brand.

Jiuquan Iron and Steel Group has achieved a major breakthrough in high-carbon steel wire rod upgrading by developing and producing the environmentally friendly “easy-to-dephosphorize” 87B high-carbon steel wire rod, filling a gap in its product portfolio. Through technical exchanges and marketing, over 5,000 tons of 87B series wire rods have been trialed by steel strand manufacturers with positive feedback, leading to mass procurement.

As a raw material for low-relaxation prestressed steel wires and strands, 87B wire rods are widely used in high-rise buildings, bridges, petrochemicals, railways, airports, power stations, and dams. With expanding applications of prestressed products, 87B has become the preferred choice for manufacturers due to its excellent mechanical properties. Guided by market demand, Jiuquan Iron and Steel studied user processes and differentiated needs, developing 87B series products with strong competitiveness and wide adaptability. These solve issues like low strength and poor oxide scale dephosphorization in steel strand wire rods, support large-size, high-strength steel strand production, and enable green, low-cost smelting, enhancing the competitiveness of “Jiuquan-made” products.

On May 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the second anti-dumping and countervailing sunset review on carbon steel alloy wire rod imported from China. Concurrently, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) launched a second sunset review to assess potential impacts if existing measures are lifted. Stakeholders were required to register for 应诉 with the U.S. Department of Commerce within 10 days of the announcement, submit responses to the ITC by June 2, 2025, and file comments by July 9, 2025. This move significantly affects China-U.S. trade in carbon steel alloy wire rod, requiring relevant enterprises to monitor developments closely and respond proactively.

On May 23, 2025, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) announced a sunset review of anti-dumping and countervailing measures on specific carbon steel fasteners originating from or exported from Mainland China and Taiwan Region. The current trade restrictions, in place since September 2020, may be extended following the review. Key timelines include: a questionnaire submission deadline of June 12, 2025; the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to issue a dumping/subsidy risk determination by October 2, 2025, with results published on October 17; and if CBSA identifies risks, CITT to rule on potential harm to Canadian industries by March 11, 2026, to decide on measure extension.

Mainland Chinese enterprises not listed face anti-dumping duties calculated as 170% of export prices (for normal value) and countervailing duties of 1.25 RMB/kg. Taiwanese enterprises face anti-dumping reviews but no countervailing investigations. If measures are extended, export costs will rise sharply, potentially forcing supply chain adjustments. Enterprises should participate in the review, monitor the hearing (scheduled by CITT for January 5, 2026), submit written comments or evidence, and conduct compliance reviews to assess risk exposure. This review reflects Canada’s strengthened trade remedy measures, potentially escalating China-Canada trade frictions and requiring enhanced early warning and compliance capabilities from related industries.

On May 21, 2025, Mexico’s Ministry of Economy announced the fourth anti-dumping sunset review on straight seam carbon steel pipes originating from the U.S. The dumping investigation period covers March 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025, and the injury investigation period spans March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2025. The products in question are straight seam carbon steel pipes with outer diameters exceeding 406.4mm and ≤1,219.2mm, and wall thicknesses between 4.77mm and 25.4mm, classified under TIGIE tariff codes 7305.11.02 and 7305.12.91. Existing anti-dumping duties remain in effect during the review. This investigation will impact U.S.-Mexico trade in straight seam carbon steel pipes, requiring relevant enterprises to monitor developments and prepare responses.