2025 Highlights of Steel Structure Bridge Raw Materials & 2026 Industry Trends

2025 saw the global steel structure bridge raw material sector advance with technological upgrades and policy-driven growth, featuring expanded high-end steel production, green process innovation, and optimized raw fuel supply. As a core global market for steel structure bridge construction, China's developments led industry trends.

 

Technologically, China mass-produced heat-treatment-free ultra-high-strength bridge cable wire rod with a strength of 1960MPa, eliminating subsequent heat treatment, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions significantly. This product was successfully applied in the closure of Huajiang Gorge Bridge, the world's highest bridge. Chongqing Iron and Steel supplied high-specification steel plates for world-class projects such as Luguhu Grand Bridge and Daxihe Grand Bridge, overcoming surface quality challenges of tempered steel plates to meet strict standards of 2-3mm per meter waviness, supporting super engineering progress.

 

 

Policy-wise, five Chinese ministries issued the "Steel Industry Steady Growth Work Plan (2025-2026)", emphasizing stabilizing supply of iron ore and coking coal, expanding steel structure application in transportation, and advancing high-end special steel R&D, providing policy support for the industry. Globally, the green and low-carbon steel certification system is accelerating, forcing enterprises to upgrade production processes.

 

Looking to 2026, three trends emerge: first, optimized demand structure, with global infrastructure and steel structure steel consumption expected to reach 248 million tons, manufacturing upgrading driving special steel demand, and the decline in real estate steel consumption narrowing gradually; second, reduced cost pressure, with global iron ore supply increment exceeding 70 million tons and equilibrium price likely falling to $90/ton (CFR China), improving steel enterprises' profitability; third, accelerated technological iteration, with wider adoption of hydrogen metallurgy and digital smelting, higher application ratio of green steel in major projects, and enhanced industrial chain resilience.