Zinc-coated flat head steel screws, as fundamental components in fields such as construction, automobiles, and mechanical manufacturing, their quality stability and anti-corrosion performance directly affect the safety and lifespan of the final products. Recently, under the influence of multiple factors such as tightened policy regulations, fluctuations in raw material prices, and accelerated technological innovation, the industry is undergoing a critical transformation period from scale expansion to quality improvement, presenting distinct development characteristics.
The improvement of policy standards has drawn a "red line" for the development of the industry. With the deepening of environmental protection concepts, relevant departments have continuously tightened the production standards for galvanized fasteners. They not only explicitly prohibit the use of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium in the plating solution, but also put forward detailed requirements for indicators such as the thickness and uniformity of the zinc coating. Meanwhile, the advancement of standards such as the "Technical Specifications for Mechanical Coating of Wood Screws and Self-Drilling and Self-Tapping Screws" has further unified production processes and inspection standards, accelerating the exit of small and medium-sized workshop-style enterprises from the market. The industry concentration has gradually increased, creating a fairer competitive environment for compliant enterprises.
The fluctuation of raw material prices has become the core issue for enterprises to control costs. Zinc, a major raw material, will show a "structurally strong" price feature in 2025. Although constrained by inventory pressure, low inventory and cost support make it easier to rise than fall. The main contract price of Shanghai zinc will maintain resilience amid fluctuations. As a result, the average selling price of galvanized fasteners in 2025 will increase by 2% compared to last year, reaching 6,500 yuan per ton. Leading enterprises hedge against cost pressures through large-scale procurement, long-term agreement price locking and supply chain optimization, while small enterprises are facing greater profit challenges. The trend of industry differentiation is becoming increasingly obvious.
Technological innovation has become the core means for enterprises to break through competition. The traditional galvanizing process is accelerating its upgrade towards environmental protection and high efficiency. The Kenlevel BF2 acidic galvanizing products without boric acid and the alkaline galvanizing system without cyanide launched by enterprises such as Medemeilesi not only meet environmental protection requirements but also enhance the gloss and uniformity of the coating. In terms of performance improvement, the application of zinc-nickel alloy coating and chromium-free passivation technology has significantly enhanced the corrosion resistance of screws. Products adopting these technologies are expected to have a market share of over 20% by 2025, especially in high-end fields such as automotive parts, where demand is particularly strong. Meanwhile, the popularization of automated production equipment has significantly enhanced production efficiency, reduced human errors, and ensured the stability of product quality.
The adjustment of the downstream demand structure provides a new growth pole for the industry. In traditional sectors, the recovery of infrastructure investment has driven up the demand for screws used in steel structures, partially offsetting the impact of the sluggish real estate market. In emerging fields, the development of new energy vehicles and energy storage devices has given rise to the demand for highly corrosion-resistant and high-precision screws. Data shows that the output of galvanized fasteners in the first quarter of 2025 increased by 5.8% year-on-year, and it is expected to maintain a steady upward trend throughout the year. In the future, only enterprises that closely follow policy guidance and continuously innovate in technology will be able to seize the initiative in industry transformation.