Tube Expo 2026 NEWS: China's Wire and Tube Industry in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative

Over the past three decades, China has undergone an unprecedented transformation of its steel industry, becoming by far the world's largest steel producer, currently accounting for more than half of global steel output at around one billion tonnes. Tube Expo 2026 knows ，with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013, the People's Republic has since initiated a global infrastructure masterplan commensurate with these gigantic production capacities, catapulting demand for steel, wire and tubes to an all-time historic high. BRI projects span 147 countries and encompass estimated investments of 8 trillion US dollars through to 2049.

The Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the New Silk Road, is far more than just a gigantic infrastructure programme — it is China's geopolitical and economic vision for the 21st century. The project comprises two main strands: the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt, running through Central Asia to Europe, and the Maritime Silk Road, extending across Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean to East Africa.

Since the initiative's launch, China has already invested an estimated 1 trillion US dollars. Long-term projections point to a total volume of up to 8 trillion US dollars by 2049. These investments flow primarily into:

·Railway networks: High-speed lines and freight corridors connecting entire continents

·Energy pipelines: Gas and oil pipelines to Central Asia and the Middle East to secure China's energy supply

·Port infrastructure: Modernisation and new construction of seaports along the Maritime Silk Road

·Road networks: Motorways and cross-border connections for overland transport

·Industrial parks: Special economic zones to promote local production and value creation

Each of these projects requires vast quantities of steel, wire products and tubes. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) alone, with an estimated volume of 62 billion US dollars, is the BRI's largest single project and impressively demonstrates the scale involved: thousands of kilometres of new roads and railways are planned, along with ports on the Arabian Sea and a comprehensive expansion of the energy infrastructure linking Pakistan with China's interior.

Top BRI Investment Recipients and Export Markets

The geographic distribution of BRI investments shows clear areas of focus. In the first half of 2023, the top 10 recipient countries for Chinese BRI investments were simultaneously the markets with the highest growth rates in steel imports from China:

Country Steel Export Growth 2023

(Jan–Nov vs. prior year)

Indonesia       +28.1%

Malaysia +38.3%

United Arab Emirates   +72.6%

Vietnam  +57.2%

Thailand Continuous growth

Laos +196.7%

Kazakhstan    Strong growth

Cambodia      Continuous growth

Russia     Growing cooperation

Source: China General Administration of Customs, China Ministry of Commerce

These figures illustrate the direct correlation between BRI investments and steel exports. Particularly noteworthy is the explosive growth in Laos (+196.7%), where the China-Laos Railway — a 414-kilometre high-speed line — is consuming massive quantities of steel. The project forms part of the larger pan-Asian railway network intended to connect China with Thailand, Malaysia and ultimately Singapore. The line opened at the end of 2021 and already carries over one million passengers as well as significant freight volumes.

The Wire Industry: Networking the Silk Road

Wire products are the nervous system of modern infrastructure. From high-voltage power lines to telecommunications cables and reinforcing steel for concrete structures — none of the BRI's ambitious projects could be realised without wire and cable. China has massively expanded and modernised its wire industry in recent years to meet this demand:

·High-performance cables for energy transmission: BRI projects require thousands of kilometres of new power lines. China is increasingly relying on high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission, which minimises losses over long distances. Projects such as the power lines from the Three Gorges Dam to the coastal cities have demonstrated China's mastery of this technology — the country is now exporting it via the BRI.

·Fibre-optic cables for telecommunications: The Digital Silk Road is an integral component of the BRI. China is investing heavily in expanding digital infrastructure in partner countries, from 5G networks in Pakistan to data centres in East Africa. Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is a key player, supplying not only network equipment but also the associated fibre-optic cables.

·Reinforcing steel and prestressing wire: High-strength steel wires are indispensable for bridges, tunnels and above-ground structures. The BRI encompasses spectacular engineering works such as the Padma Bridge in Bangladesh (6.15 km) and the planned China-Nepal Railway Tunnel through the Himalayas. Such projects require specialist wires capable of withstanding extreme loads.

·Automotive wiring: China is the world's largest car market, and the BRI is opening up new export markets. Chinese automakers such as BYD, Geely and SAIC are expanding aggressively into BRI countries. With them comes demand for wiring harnesses for electric vehicles — a segment in which China has now become a global technology leader.

·Wire drawing machines and precision equipment: State-of-the-art technology for the production of high-quality wire is another key focus. European and Japanese machinery manufacturers present their latest developments at Wire China, while Chinese manufacturers are increasingly producing their own competitive equipment.

Energy Infrastructure: The Backbone of the Silk Road

A core element of the BRI is the construction of cross-border energy networks. China is planning and implementing extensive power transmission projects that transport renewable energy from wind- and sun-rich regions to consumption centres. These projects require high-voltage cables on a scale never seen before.

One example is the Central Asia–South Asia (CASA-1000) Electricity Transmission Project, which channels hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The 1,222-kilometre high-voltage line with a capacity of 1,300 MW is set to be fully operational by 2025. Such projects consume not only thousands of tonnes of copper and aluminium cable, but also steel cables for pylons and reinforcing steel for foundations.

Another ambitious project is the Desertec-like vision for Central Asia: China plans to transport solar energy from the deserts of Kazakhstan and Mongolia over thousands of kilometres to eastern China. Technical feasibility has already been proven through domestic HVDC projects; the technology is now to be deployed across borders.

Tube Expo 2026 learned that Chinese wire producers have established themselves as preferred suppliers, not only due to their price competitiveness, but also on account of established supply relationships and the application of Chinese construction standards on many BRI projects. Chinese construction companies often purchase materials directly from domestic manufacturers — an advantage that is impressively reflected in the export statistics.

Opportunities for International Companies

Chinese manufacturers are seeking advanced technologies for energy-efficient production, quality control and automation. Wire China and Tube China are ideal platforms for presenting these technologies and winning contracts.

Many Chinese companies are interested in joint ventures with international technology leaders in order to gain access to cutting-edge technologies and international markets. At the same time, Western firms can benefit from China's low production costs and established supply chains.

Through cooperation with Chinese companies, Western firms can gain indirect access to BRI projects. Chinese construction companies prefer domestic suppliers but are open to technologically superior products where these offer a clear added value.

European specialty steel manufacturers can, for example, supply high-strength reinforcing steels or corrosion-resistant tubes for demanding BRI projects. German companies such as Salzgitter, or Austrian ones such as Voestalpine, have good niche opportunities here.

Conclusion

The Belt and Road Initiative is more than just an infrastructure programme — it is China's vision for a new world order of the 21st century. With investments of potentially up to 8 trillion — that is, 8,000 billion — US dollars over the coming decades, the BRI is creating demand for steel, wire and tubes that is unprecedented in history.

China's wire and tube industry has positioned itself perfectly to benefit from this boom. The combination of low production costs, massive production capacities, established supply relationships and the application of Chinese standards on BRI projects gives Chinese manufacturers a competitive advantage that is almost impossible to close.

That said, it remains true that Chinese companies have a broad need for specialist know-how that — outside Japan or Korea — exists only in Europe. The Wire China and Tube China trade fairs in September 2026 in Shanghai are crucial platforms for all those who wish to succeed in this dynamic market. They offer not only access to China's booming industry, but also insights into the future development of global steel, wire and tube markets.

For more on the wire and tube industry in China and worldwide, visit wire & Tube, taking place from 13 to 17 April 2026 in Düsseldorf. For the Asian perspective, visit Wire China and Tube Expo 2026 from 21 to 24 September 2026 in Shanghai.

Current industry and product information is available at www.wire-tradefair.com, www.wirechina.net and www.tubechina.net.

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