Since the beginning of this year, China's supply of specialty steels for new energy vehicles, robots, and other high-tech products has continued to strengthen, providing essential material support for the growth of emerging industries.
A new ultra-thin steel, developed in China, has been crafted into sheets that are just 0.07 millimeters thick, roughly the width of a single human hair.
"This ultra-thin steel delivers exceptional strength and is already being deployed in applications such as 5G base stations and new energy battery tabs," said Bao Chengren, vice general manager of Shougang Jingtang United Iron and Steel Company.
From nuclear-grade steel to tin-plated steel sheets with 50 percent improved ductility, Chinese steelmakers have continued to push the boundaries of research and development and innovation this year. They have debuted six core steel products on the global markets, and the self-sufficiency rate for producing specialty steel for robot motors, submarine pipelines, and other applications has approached 100 percent, a testament to the industry's structural optimization.
"Behind the surge of new steel products in China lies a precise and rapid market response by steelmakers seizing structural demand opportunities. Steel products are accelerating their transition from 'one-size-fits-all' to customized solutions," said Zhao Minge, president of the China Iron and Steel Association.
This shift toward customization is powered by the Chinese steel industry's comprehensive transformation toward smart, green, and integrated manufacturing. To date, three Chinese steel companies have been included in the Global Lighthouse Network by the World Economic Forum.
China's specialty steel supply continues to grow
