August 2025 Tinplate Market Report: Prices Rise Amid Limited Supply

The Chinese tinplate market saw notable price adjustments in August, with leading producers increasing rates due to rising raw material costs and steady overseas demand. Market players expect further price hikes in September, driven by supply constraints and speculative buying activity.

Tinplate and Hot Rolled Coil Price Movements

In August 2025, major Chinese steelmakers implemented significant price increases for tinplate and TFS products:

Private enterprises had already raised ex-factory prices by ¥200–300/ton in July, anticipating further increases.

New Production Capacity in 2025

The Chinese tinplate industry is expanding production capabilities:

• 9 new tinplate/TFS lines in 2025, total capacity 1.85 million tons, mainly starting in H1.

• 10 approved but unbuilt lines with a projected capacity of 2.2 million tons.

This capacity growth will influence supply dynamics in the coming years, although short-term availability remains tight.

Hot Rolled Coil Market Overview

According to market monitoring, August hot rolled coil prices rose by ¥150–200/ton compared to July.

• Supply Side: Stable production levels, slight increase in inventories, and long lead times make price cuts unlikely.

• Demand Side: Seasonal slowdown continues, with downstream demand soft. Upward movement is limited unless triggered by speculative buying.

Market Outlook: Prices have little room to fall in the near term and may rise modestly due to positive sentiment and opportunistic purchasing.

Raw Materials and Tinplate Profit Margins

• Tin ingot prices rose by ¥3,200/ton, pushing 0.20mm 2.8/2.8 tinplate prices up $1.5–2/ton.

• Tinplate mill profits fell slightly by ¥25/ton but remain relatively stable

Export Trends

• Exports in June dipped slightly due to earlier order rushes.

• First-half exports show strong growth, but H2 growth may slow.

Downstream Industries Impacting Demand

Tinplate application breakdown in China:

Beverage and canned food production trends directly influence tinplate demand.

Beverage & Dairy Production Data

• Beverages: Jan–Jun output 93.09 million tons (-5.11% YoY)

• Dairy products: Jan–Jun output 14.33 million tons (flat YoY), June output 2.546 million tons (+4.90% YoY)

Corporate Moves: ORG Packaging Expansion

ORG Packaging announced two major investments:

1. Thailand: RMB 442 million two-piece can production line targeting beer, functional drinks, and carbonated beverages.

2. Kazakhstan: RMB 647 million two-piece can plant for regional demand expansion.

Global Steel Ranking

The 2025 Fortune Global 500 ranked China Baowu Steel Group as the world’s largest steel company, with $125.1 billion revenue, leading in high-end plate products and hydrogen metallurgy technology.

Industry Overview and Forecast

Order books for major producers like Baosteel (Europe) and Shougang (US) remain full, with lead times exceeding 50 days.
Analysts expect:

• September tinplate prices: +¥200–300/ton increase.

• Continued upward momentum through H2 2025, especially with production cuts limiting supply.

Manufacturer’s Insight

From a production standpoint, tinplate manufacturers are walking a fine line between passing on rising raw material costs and maintaining competitiveness in export markets. The balance is heavily influenced by downstream demand from beverage and food tinplate can sectors. Any recovery in these industries could accelerate price increases, while prolonged weakness might stabilize the market temporarily.

Conclusion & Call to Action

With both domestic and international demand shaping price movements, the tinplate market in late 2025 is entering a pivotal phase.
If you’re sourcing tinplate or TFS, locking in orders early could help you avoid cost increases in Q4.

Contact us today for the latest pricing, technical specifications, and tailored supply solutions.
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