Tianjin Iron and Steel Association: Building a New Ecosystem for Green, Low‑Carbon and Intelligent Development of Tianjin’s Iron and Steel Industry

On August 25, the 5th Session of the 4th Council of Tianjin Iron and Steel Industry Association and the 5th Session of the 1st Council of Tianjin Metallurgical Chamber of Commerce were held in Jinghai District, Tianjin. The meeting reviewed the achievements of Tianjin’s iron and steel industry during the 14th Five‑Year Plan period, analyzed the current situation confronting the sector, and pointed out that efforts should be made to build a new ecosystem featuring green, low‑carbon and intelligent development for Tianjin’s iron and steel industry in the 15th Five‑Year Plan period.

Ding Liguo, Vice‑President of the China Iron and Steel Association, Executive President of the All‑China Federation of Metallurgical Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of Delong Iron and Steel Industry Group; Xia Nong, Member of the Party Committee Standing Committee and Vice‑President of the China Iron and Steel Association; Li Maojin, Executive President of the All‑China Federation of Metallurgical Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Welded Pipe Branch of China Iron and Steel Association and Chairman of Tianjin Youfa Steel Pipe Group; Li Yongjun, Party Secretary and Director of the China Metallurgical Industry Economic Development Research Center; Shi Hongwei, Secretary‑General of the All‑China Federation of Metallurgical Chamber of Commerce; Qu Haifu, Deputy Secretary of the Jinghai District Party Committee and District Mayor of Tianjin; Yang Dongmei, Deputy Director‑General of Tianjin Bureau of Industry and Information Technology; Yang Chenguang, Deputy District Mayor of Jinghai District, Tianjin and Party Working Committee Secretary of Ziya Economic Development Zone; Liang Nan, Second‑level Inspector of Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Commerce; Zhang Junting, Executive Chairman of the Board and President of Rongcheng Group; Chen Guangling, General Manager of Tianjin Youfa Steel Pipe Group and President of Tianjin Iron and Steel Industry Association; Kan Yonghai, Executive President of Delong Iron and Steel Industry Group; Chai Shuman, Deputy Party Secretary and Vice‑President of Rongcheng Group; Chen Peiyu, former Deputy General Manager of Tianjin Pipe Corporation, and other leaders attended the conference. Wang Tianwei, Acting Secretary‑General of Tianjin Iron and Steel Industry Association, presided over the meeting.

In his speech, Ding Liguo stated that China’s iron and steel industry will undergo three major transformations in the 15th Five‑Year Plan period: shifting from incremental expansion to stock optimization, from scale‑driven competition to value‑oriented competition, and from competition among individual enterprises to competition across industrial systems. He called on iron and steel enterprises to scientifically understand, adapt to and pursue changes, keep abreast of industrial trends, refrain from fearing cyclical fluctuations or being preoccupied with short‑term gains and losses. Enterprises should break away from the old mindset of scale‑driven internal competition and cut‑throat price rivalry, stabilize the industry through self‑regulation, improve product quality via innovation, boost benefits by building brands, and strengthen the industry through collaboration. He emphasized that only by building up internal strength can enterprises cope with an uncertain future.

Ding Liguo noted that Tianjin boasts a solid iron‑and‑steel foundation, strong leading enterprises and favorable geographical location. It is necessary to enhance coordination among local steel enterprises as well as between upstream and downstream players. Sticking to high‑end, green and intelligent development, Tianjin should pursue quality improvement through capacity reduction, strengthen and complete industrial chains, and pursue win‑win cooperation, so as to build a nationally‑leading industrial cluster for steel pipes, premium steel sheets and green building materials.

In his report titled Growing from Large to Strong, Pursuing Quality over Quantity to Advance High‑Quality Development of China’s Iron and Steel Industry, Xia Nong offered an in‑depth interpretation of the development plan for China’s iron and steel industry during the 15th Five‑Year Plan period, clarifying its objectives, tasks and key initiatives. The objectives specify that by 2030, the industrial foundation and overall competence of China’s iron and steel sector shall be further enhanced; progress in high‑end, intelligent, green and integrated development shall be elevated; world‑leading standards shall be maintained in technical equipment, digital transformation and green low‑carbon transition. A sound modern iron‑and‑steel industrial system with global influence, strong industrial independence and high development contributions will be accelerated, delivering greater support for Chinese‑style modernization. Twelve key tasks have been defined, including establishing a dynamic supply‑demand balancing mechanism and promoting structural optimization and upgrading. Seven priority work streams cover capacity governance, output regulation, quality improvement and brand building, as well as energy‑carbon efficiency enhancement. The plan charts the development path and provides actionable insights for steel enterprises.

Xia Nong also analyzed the performance of the iron and steel industry from January to July 2026 and the outlook for relevant national policies. He projected that steel consumption demand would continue its downward trend in the second half of the year. State regulatory policies will positively facilitate dynamic supply‑demand balance and long‑term sound development of the sector, yet the supply‑heavy, demand‑weak market pattern cannot be fundamentally reversed in the short run. He urged steel enterprises to fully implement national policies such as crude steel output control, uphold the business principle of “Three Insistences and Three Avoidances”, drive industrial structural upgrading guided by market demand, resolutely oppose vicious low‑price competition, and secure stable and healthy industrial performance.

Li Yongjun delivered a report entitled Underlying Logic of Market Performance in the Iron and Steel Industry and Expansion of Steel‑Consuming Sectors. Based on comparative data, he pointed out that the core underlying cause of sustained steel price declines lies in supply‑demand imbalance marked by oversupply. Persistent thin‑profit conditions across the sector make geographical disparities and logistics cost gaps among enterprises one of the major factors driving profit divergence. Meanwhile, he observed that the 15th Five‑Year Plan will witness a historic shift in steel demand structure. First, steel will partially replace non‑metallic construction materials and wood‑based panels in architectural decoration, public infrastructure construction and furniture manufacturing. Second, exports of steel‑containing manufactured goods, particularly various equipment, apparatuses and spare parts, will maintain sound growth and fuel indirect steel exports. The iron and steel industry will therefore enter a brand‑new development phase jointly powered by manufacturing upgrading, green material substitution and global market expansion.

In his work report Forge Ahead on a New Journey, Pool Strengths for Grand Vision — Striving to Build a New Ecosystem for Green, Low‑Carbon and Intelligent Development of Tianjin’s Iron and Steel Industry, Chen Guangling pointed out that over the past five years, Tianjin’s iron and steel industry has achieved continuous improvement in development quality and efficiency and systematic industrial‑structure optimization, accomplishing a fundamental shift from scale‑based support to quality‑led growth. First, green transition has made comprehensive breakthroughs across the region. Second, energy conservation and carbon reduction outcomes rank top among Tianjin’s industrial sectors. Third, new‑quality productive forces are being fostered at an accelerated pace with steadily improved capacity for supplying high‑end products. Fourth, leading enterprises have played an exemplary role, forming a new industrial‑development pattern with multi‑pillar support and all‑round upgrading. He stated that Tianjin Iron and Steel Industry Association will focus on eight priority tasks including Party‑building guidance, compliance baseline management, green‑low‑carbon transition, new‑quality productive forces and industrial self‑regulation, to further advance high‑quality development of Tianjin’s iron‑and‑steel industry.

Yang Dongmei put forward four expectations for Tianjin’s iron and steel industry: firmly uphold the primary task of high‑quality development, focus on core business and strengthen the real economy; unswervingly pursue green development and accelerate green reform and low‑carbon transformation; vigorously advance digital‑intelligent transformation to achieve quality and efficiency gains; deepen industrial‑chain collaboration and foster a safe and resilient industrial ecosystem.

“As a traditional competitive industry in Jinghai District, the iron‑and‑steel sector is embracing new development opportunities amid in‑depth implementation of Tianjin’s Ten Initiatives for High‑Quality Development and accelerated advancement of new‑style industrialization. Nevertheless, it also faces severe challenges in green carbon reduction, structural optimization and market competition. Going forward, the iron‑and‑steel industry must adhere to green development as its lifeline and consolidate the foundation for transformation and upgrading; prioritize innovation‑driven growth and speed up fostering new‑quality productive forces; strengthen coordinated linkages and jointly build a sound industrial ecosystem,” remarked Yang Chenguang.

The meeting also announced the Proposal on Recruiting New Members, Adjusting and Supplementing Certain Directors and Member Representatives adopted by the Council. Participants voted and approved the 2025 Membership Dues Revenue‑Expenditure Report of Tianjin Iron and Steel Industry Association, the Draft Proposal on Amending the Term of Rotating Presidents and Hierarchical Setup of Member Institutions, as well as the President’s work report.

Nearly 200 delegates from Tianjin municipal government departments, industry associations, iron‑and‑steel and upstream‑downstream enterprises, consulting platforms, financial institutions and media organizations attended the conference.