China will take measures to reduce steel output in 2025-2026, Reuters writes, citing an informed source and an official document from the ministries of industry, environment and others it has consulted. According to the document, the world’s largest steel producer will also severely limit new capacity.
“The steel industry has faced overcapacity and insufficient effective demand, resulting in a supply-demand imbalance affecting the quality and efficiency of development,” the document said.
The document does not set production reduction targets. However, it notes, such reduction will be achieved by closing obsolete and inefficient furnaces and supporting the development of advanced enterprises.
At the same time, it plans to increase the industry’s value-added by 4% per year, invest in new technologies and encourage the use of steel in housing and infrastructure construction.
Beijing will also strengthen measures to ensure stability in the cost and supply of raw materials, including iron ore and coking coal, and take steps to strengthen the management of steel exports, the document said. An informed source confirmed the authenticity of the document and said it was the latest version.
German newspaper Die Welt, citing EU diplomats, reports that Chinese authorities have confirmed their readiness to participate in a peacekeeping contingent for Ukraine.
However, it is emphasized that the government in Beijing will be ready to do so “if the peacekeepers are deployed on the basis of a United Nations mandate.”
“In Brussels, Beijing’s plan has met with a mixed reaction. On the one hand, it is said that the inclusion of countries from the Global South, such as China, could make the deployment of foreign troops for peace monitoring more acceptable,” Die Welt writes.
“However, on the other hand,” the publication continues, “there is also a danger that China will primarily want to spy on Ukraine and take a clearly pro-Russian position instead of a neutral one in the event of a conflict,” said a senior EU diplomat familiar with the ongoing discussions.
China increased oil production by 1.3% in January-July compared to the same period last year, to 126.6 million tons, according to the State Statistical Office.
In July alone, production rose by 1.2% to 18.12 million tons.
Oil refining for the seven months totaled 424.68 million tons, up 2.6% from the same period in 2024. In July alone, it rose 8.9% to 63.06 million tons.
Natural gas production in the country in January-July increased by 6% and reached 152.5 billion cubic meters, according to the GSU report. Last month, production rose by 7.4% to 21.6 billion cubic meters.
In January-July of this year, Ukrainian mining companies reduced exports of iron ore raw materials (IORM) in physical terms by 8% compared to the same period last year, to 19 million 145,471 thousand tons from 20 million 803,661 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS) on Tuesday, foreign currency earnings from exports of iron ore raw materials decreased by 20.3% during this period, to $1 billion 460.316 million from $1 billion 831.314 million.
Raw materials were exported mainly to China (43.67% of shipments in monetary terms), Slovakia (17.9%), and Poland (16.82%).
In addition, in January-July 2025, Ukraine imported raw materials worth $58 thousand in the amount of 86 tons from Italy (40.35%), the Netherlands (36.84%), and Norway (22.81%), while in the same period last year it imported 771 tons worth $208 thousand.
As reported, in 2024, Ukraine increased its exports of raw materials by 89.8% compared to 2023, to 33 million 699.722 thousand tons, and foreign exchange earnings grew by 58.7%, to $2 billion 803.223 million.
In 2024, Ukraine imported mineral resources worth $414,000 in a total volume of 2,042 tons, while in 2023, 250 tons of these raw materials were imported worth $135,000.
In 2023, Ukraine reduced exports of raw materials in physical terms by 26% compared to 2022, to 17 million 753.165 thousand tons. Foreign exchange earnings amounted to $1 billion 766.906 million (a decrease of 39.3%).
Raw materials worth $135,000 were imported, totaling 250 tons.
Egypt has signed an agreement with China’s Sailun Group to build a car tire plant in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ) with a total investment of $1 billion, according to a cabinet statement. The construction of the plant will take three years. The first phase is scheduled for completion in 2026.
The plant will eventually produce 10 million tires a year, Reuters quoted the government as saying.
The EZSC is a complex of six ports and four industrial zones located along or near a strategic waterway. The Egyptian government has granted the zone special legal and tax incentives. Meanwhile, the country is investing heavily in infrastructure to attract investors to the EZSC.
The Italian government plans to restrict the presence of Chinese investors in key companies to avoid possible tensions in relations with the US, Bloomberg reports, citing informed sources.
The plans concern companies that the government considers strategic, both private and state-owned, the sources said. One of the most notable examples is Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli & C. SpA, 37% of which is owned by Chinese state-owned Sinochem International Corp.
Earlier this year, Pirelli stripped the Chinese investor of its management control after facing the threat of sales restrictions in the US, its main market. As reported, Washington has banned the import or sale in the country of connected cars that use Chinese equipment or software.
Sinochem insists that its investment in Pirelli is long-term, while Rome is considering options to pressure the Chinese investor to sell its stake, sources say.
The situation surrounding Pirelli shows the difficulties Europe faces in the new geopolitical reality. The region welcomed Chinese investors after the 2008 financial crisis, but now seeks to reduce its dependence on Beijing in order to protect strategic industries and maintain good relations with US President Donald Trump.
Among other companies from which Italy would like to oust Chinese investors is CDP Reti SpA, which controls the country’s power grids, sources say. A subsidiary of State Grid Corporation of China owns 35% of CDP Reti and has two seats on its board of directors.
Another example is power plant manufacturer Ansaldo Energia SpA. Although Shanghai Electric has already reduced its stake in the company from 0.5% to 40%, the very presence of a Chinese investor prevents the company from participating in a number of tenders and competitions in the US energy market, according to one of the sources.
In total, about 700 Italian companies have Chinese investors, but the government is mainly focused on large firms in strategic sectors, including energy, transport, technology, and finance.
