The new national angle steel testing standard YB/T 4163-2026 was officially implemented, and the multi-dimensional layout of Baotou Steel Co., Ltd. seized the opportunity in the industry
On March 26, 2025, the new national angle steel inspection standard YB/T 4163-2026 was officially implemented, replacing the original 2016 version standard. New mandatory inspection items such as Z-direction tear resistance and dynamic load fatigue life have been added, promoting the transformation of the angle steel industry towards high performance and high reliability. As one of the first domestic enterprises to pass the new standard certification, Baotou Steel United (Tianjin) Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. has simultaneously upgraded the Q355D angle steel production line. The seamless steel pipes, I-beams and other profile products exported in conjunction have obtained the EU EPD certification. In the first quarter of 2025, the steel export volume increased by 23.7% year-on-year.
The core upgrade of the new standard: Z-direction tear resistance and full-process traceability become hard indicators.
YB/T 4163-2026 includes the Z-direction tear resistance (Z35 grade) into the mandatory testing range for the first time, requiring the lamellar tear rate of angle steel to be less than or equal to 15%, and introduces a blockchain traceability system to realize the whole process data from smelting to processing. Baotou Steel Co., Ltd. reduced the carbon footprint of Q355D angle steel to 1.8tCO ²/t through zero-carbon electric arc furnace technology. The weathering steel angle steel (09CuPCrNi) produced by it has been used in the Dasu Hydropower Station Project in Pakistan. The matching I-beam and channel steel combination package account for 40% of the steel used in the project.
Market differentiation accelerates, leading companies seize the high-end track
After the implementation of the new standard, small and medium-sized angle steel manufacturers are facing the risk of elimination due to rising testing costs, and the industry concentration has increased significantly. Relying on its technical advantages, Baotou Steel Union launched the "angle steel + seamless steel pipe" energy engineering solution. Its API 5L X70 seamless steel pipe won the bidding volume in the Central Asia natural gas pipeline project exceeded 200,000 tons. Q460D I-beam accounted for more than 30% of the Jawan high-speed rail project in Indonesia. Data show that the gross profit margin of Baotou Steel's high-end profile exports in 2025 reached 18%, which was 6 percentage points higher than the industry average.
Intelligent detection: numerical control processing and AI quality inspection are the key to transformation
In order to meet the stringent requirements of the new standard for dimensional accuracy (tolerance ±0.05mm) and surface quality, Baotou Steel United introduces the fourth-generation numerical control angle steel processing production line. Combined with AI visual inspection technology, it realizes an angle steel drilling error of ≤0.02mm and a 40% increase in processing efficiency. The simultaneously upgraded precision round steel (20CrMnTi) production line has products used in the manufacturing of automotive gears in Southeast Asia, and the profit margin is increased by 20% compared to traditional round steel.
Green certification drives exports, "Belt and Road Initiative" orders account for more than 60%
The new standard is in line with international standards (such as EN 10025). Baotou Steel United's angle steel, channel steel and other products have obtained CE and SABS certifications. The orders for exporting to the Southeast Asian photovoltaic support market have increased by 34%. Its corrosion-resistant seamless steel pipe (316L material) accounts for 25% in the Saudi seawater desalination project. The zero-carbon I-beam has exceeded 50,000 tons in the winning bid volume in EU infrastructure projects. In 2025, orders from countries along the "Belt and Road" account for 65% of the company's total steel export volume.
Industry Outlook: Policy and Technology Restructuring Ecology
Industry experts predict that the new standard will promote the average annual elimination of backward production capacity of about 3 million tons of angle steel industry, 2025 high-end angle steel market size or break through 120 billion yuan. Baotou Steel plans to invest 200 million yuan to build an intelligent coating production line, with the goal of increasing the proportion of green steel exports to 50% in 2026, and joint research institutions to develop hydrogen energy storage tanks with anti-hydrogen embrittlement angle steel to seize the new energy track
