As a key basic material in the field of metal products, phosphated steel wire is widely used in core areas such as steel wire ropes, spring manufacturing, and construction engineering, thanks to the excellent corrosion resistance, lubricity and adhesion endowed by the phosphated film. Recently, driven by both policy standardization and technological innovation, China's phosphating steel wire industry has gradually bid farewell to the old pattern of scattered processes and uneven quality, and is accelerating its transformation towards high-end and green directions, becoming an important force supporting the upgrading of equipment manufacturing.
Policy norms have become the "guiding star" for the development of the industry. In September 2025, the Hebei Quality Information Association officially initiated the project of the "Technical Requirements for Phosphating Steel Wire Process" group standard, filling the gap in general phosphating steel wire process standards. This standard was drafted by enterprises such as Qian 'an Dingtai Hardware, clearly defining core parameters such as the optimal production temperature of 15℃ to 30℃ and the relative humidity control of 40% to 60%. At the same time, it makes rigid regulations on the qualifications of operators and environmental protection and safety measures. Previously, due to the lack of unified standards in the industry, the performance of products from some small and medium-sized enterprises fluctuated greatly. After the implementation of the new standards, it will provide a production benchmark for the entire industry, especially helping small and medium-sized enterprises enhance their quality control capabilities and promoting efficient connections between upstream and downstream of the industrial chain.
Technological innovation continuously breaks through the pain points of the industry. In terms of production equipment, the patent for "Enhanced Phosphating Steel Wire Production Line for High-Speed Elevator Ropes" applied for by Jiangsu Yuande Intelligent Equipment in March 2025 precisely cleans the sediment in the phosphating tank through an internal slag suction component, eliminating the need to replace the entire tank of phosphating solution. This not only reduces production costs but also enhances the stability of the production line. In the field of process optimization, the phosphating film homogenization technology developed by Xinyu Xingang Metal Products adds a surface adjustment process before phosphating, effectively solving the "mold calling" problem of low compression ratio steel wire and significantly improving production efficiency. Meanwhile, the popularization of green processes is accelerating. Low-chromium and nickel-free phosphating formulas are gradually replacing traditional processes, helping enterprises meet the environmental protection access requirements of the European Union.
The market pattern shows a favorable trend of "dual growth both domestically and internationally". In the domestic market, the production capacity layout of enterprises has become more reasonable. New production lines in Guangxi, Liaoning and other places have been put into operation one after another, filling the regional supply gap. The export market performed particularly well. Data from the General Administration of Customs shows that in the first half of 2024, China's export volume of phosphating carbon steel wire reached 973,000 tons, increasing by 15.4% year-on-year. The export unit price rose by 6.2%, and the proportion of high value-added products significantly increased. Among them, Jiangsu Farsheng's products have entered the EU infrastructure market through the ECE R94 certification in Europe. Hangzhou Special Steel Wire has taken advantage of the policy dividends of RCEP, and its export volume to Japan increased by more than 39% in 2023.
The current industry is also facing a dual test of cost and opportunity. In terms of raw materials, the price fluctuations of high-carbon steel wire rods have led to price adjustments in terminal products. Some enterprises have already raised the price of lead bath phosphated steel wire by 30 yuan per ton. However, the favorable factors are more prominent: on the one hand, the domestic production rate of high-end raw materials has increased to over 60%, easing the reliance on the supply chain; On the other hand, the demand in emerging fields has exploded. The demand for high-conductivity phosphated steel wires in battery connection components of new energy vehicles and high-precision products in high-end equipment continue to grow.
Overall, in the recent stage, the phosphating steel wire industry has formed a virtuous cycle of "standard protection, technology empowerment, and market expansion". With the implementation of the "Technical Requirements for Phosphating Steel Wire Process" standard and the further popularization of intelligent equipment and green processes, China's phosphating steel wire will not only consolidate its leading position in the Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern markets, but also is expected to achieve import substitution in the high-end equipment manufacturing field, injecting new impetus into the high-quality development of the metal products industry.