China is a major producer of stainless steel and is expected to remain the largest in the world in the coming years. According to the World Steel Association (WSA), Chinese stainless steel production in 2020 reached 21.3 million metric tonnes, representing an impressive 33.3% of total global output. In 2021 it is estimated that China will produce around 22.2 million metric tonnes of stainless steel, implying a 4.2% growth compared to 2020. 

Looking forward to 2023, the WSA has forecast that China’s stainless steel production levels will increase further to around 24.3 million metric tonnes, an estimated 9.6% increase from 2021. This growth is driven primarily by increasing domestic demand from the automotive, construction and kitchenware sectors. In the automotive sector in particular, stainless steel is increasingly used for exhaust systems and other vehicle components.

Furthermore, the Chinese government’s Belt and Road initiative is expected to spur demand for stainless steel in the coming years. This is because the infrastructure projects related to the initiative are likely to require significant amounts of stainless steel for their implementation.

In order to meet rising demand, Chinese stainless steel producers have made significant investments in the production process in recent years. In particular, Chinese producers have adopted new technologies that have increased the efficiency of stainless steel production.

Overall, China is expected to remain the largest global producer of stainless steel throughout the 2021-2023 period, with production rising to 24.3 million metric tonnes by 2023. This growth is driven by strong domestic demand and the government’s Belt and Road initiative, as well as increasing efficiency of the production process.