H-shaped steel is the mainstream type of steel structure material. The commonly used materials are mainly Q235B and Q355B. The export destinations are mainly concentrated in emerging infrastructure markets such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Commonly Used Materials

National Standard Mainstream (GB/T 11263)

Q235B: Most common and cost-effective, yield strength ≥ 235MPa, used in factories, buildings, and general structures.

Q355B (formerly Q345B): High-strength low-alloy steel, yield strength ≥ 355MPa, used in bridges, high-rise buildings, heavy equipment, and seismic structures.

Low Temperature/Weather Resistance: Q235C/D, Q355C/D, Q355NH (weather resistant), Q390GJC (fire resistant).

Commonly Used for Export

JIS: SS400 (corresponding to Q235B)

ASTM: A36, A992 (corresponding to Q355 grade)

EN: S235JR, S355JR (commonly used for export to Europe/South Korea)

Main Export Countries/Regions

Southeast Asia: Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam

Demand: Infrastructure, factories, bridges, ports; mainly Q235B and SS400.

Middle East: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar

Characteristics: Large-scale infrastructure, petrochemicals, weather-resistant applications; high proportion of Q355B and S355.

Africa: Morocco (735% increase by 2025), South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria

Railway, highway, and port construction; mainly Q235B and A36.

Other Regions: South Asia: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan. South America: Brazil, Chile, Peru. Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, South Korea (small amount of high-end products)

Export Characteristics

Main Materials: Q235B, Q355B, SS400, S235JR.

Specifications: Mainly hot-rolled H-beams (HW wide wing, HM medium wing, HN narrow wing).

Trends: Southeast Asia remains the leading market, with the Middle East and Africa showing the fastest growth; Europe and the US have a low proportion due to anti-dumping measures.