As a core basic component in the fields of mechanical manufacturing and infrastructure, galvanized screws have seen a steady expansion in industry scale and accelerated technological upgrading in recent times, driven by both policy guidance and market demand, thanks to their excellent corrosion resistance and high strength. Relying on the promotion of "new infrastructure" and the support of green manufacturing policies, the galvanized screw industry is shifting from scale growth to quality competition, presenting distinct development characteristics.
The continuous expansion of the market size is the most direct manifestation of the industry. In 2024, the market size of hot-dip galvanized bolts (including screws) in China has exceeded 100 billion yuan, with the strong growth of infrastructure investment becoming the core driving force. Data shows that in the first half of 2024, national infrastructure investment increased by 7.2% year-on-year, and the purchase volume of galvanized screws for transportation, energy and urban renewal projects has significantly increased. Demand in the automotive and new energy sectors is equally strong. Domestic auto production is expected to exceed 28 million units in 2024, and the global share of wind power installed capacity exceeds 50%. The year-on-year growth rate of demand for high-performance galvanized screws in these fields all exceeds 10%, driving the industry to maintain an average annual compound growth rate of 5% to 7%.
Technological upgrading and product structure optimization have become the main lines of industry development. Under the pressure of environmental protection policies, the traditional hot-dip galvanizing process is accelerating its transformation towards green processes such as electro-galvanizing and alloy coating. Leading enterprises have achieved precise control of zinc coating thickness within 85μm±5μm, and the salt spray test duration has been increased by more than three times compared to traditional products. Innovation investment has been continuously increasing. It is expected that the industry's R&D investment will grow by 12% in 2025. New types of galvanized screws that can withstand extreme environments and have intelligent monitoring capabilities are gradually being applied in high-end fields such as wind power and new energy vehicles. The product structure shows a significant upgrading trend. The output growth rate of high-strength galvanized screws of grade 8.8 and above has reached 25%, far exceeding the 6% growth rate of ordinary grade products.
Policies and regulations have set a clear direction for the development of the industry. "Made in China 2025" clearly supports the high-end development of fasteners, and high-performance galvanized materials have been included in the list of key new materials. In terms of environmental protection, the newly revised "Emission Standard of Pollutants for Electroplating Industry" has significantly raised the emission requirements. By 2024, the wastewater discharge volume of the galvanizing industry will decrease by 20% compared to 2020, and the zinc recovery and utilization rate will increase to 85%. Quality supervision has also been continuously strengthened. The newly implemented "Implementation Specifications for Quality Supervision and Random Inspection of Fastener Products" in 2024 has refined the inspection standards, raising the industry's random inspection pass rate from 88% in 2020 to 95%.
International trade presents a pattern where "opportunities and challenges coexist". In 2024, the export value of galvanized screws in China increased by 12% year-on-year, with Southeast Asia and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative becoming the main export destinations. However, the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is about to be implemented, which will increase export costs. Meanwhile, the import substitution rate in the domestic high-end market has risen to 70%, but some high-precision products still rely on imports, leaving a vast space for domestic substitution. With the increase in industry concentration, the top 20 enterprises, with a 3.8% share of R&D investment and a 72% share of patent quantity, are leading the industry to continuously move towards a high-quality direction of intelligence and greenness.