Chinese Steel in Solar Market Sparks Safety Fears
The influx of Chinese steel has given rise to another critical issue: safety concerns. Low-quality Chinese products, operating in regulatory blind spots for safety and quality standards, are infiltrating markets for renewable energy, construction sites, and various components like bolts and nuts. This has been sowing structural risks—corrosion, fires, and collapses—across society.
A prime example is the solar power market, which the government has designated as a key industry for development. Industry insiders express concerns that untested Chinese steel plates are being indiscriminately used for steel substructures that support solar panels. Coated steel sheets, made by plating magnesium, zinc, and aluminum onto steel, are difficult to distinguish visually. According to the Korea Iron and Steel Association, Chinese products accounted for approximately 31% of the solar substructure market last year.
This newspaper, in collaboration with a domestic steel research institute, tested 14 coated steel sheets for solar substructures circulating in the market. The results revealed that five Chinese products had magnesium content at half the level of others—ranging from 1.42% to 1.56%—while all domestic products exceeded 3%.
Solar substructures, typically used outdoors for over 20 years, require durability against rain, wind, and other environmental factors. The research institute stated, “If solar substructures are made with coated steel sheets containing around 1.5% magnesium, durability issues arise after just 10 years.” It added, “The risk of corrosion is higher when low-quality steel is used in offshore solar, wind, or reclaimed land projects, which are rapidly expanding.” While government projects and large construction bids often prohibit Chinese steel, such regulations do not apply to solar power. Manufacturers are also frequently found falsely labeling Chinese steel as domestic.
The market for construction-grade coated and colored steel sheets—a core material for roofs, interior/exterior walls, and signboards—faces similar issues. Chinese imports surged from 830,000 tons in 2022 to 1.04 million tons in 2023 and 1.31 million tons in 2024, capturing 47% of the domestic market (2.8 million tons). Industry experts warn that many Chinese products fail to meet the construction law’s required coating amount (90 grams per square meter) and lack transparent manufacturing origins. A representative from Dongkuk CM, a domestic steelmaker, emphasized, “Coating thickness directly impacts corrosion and fire safety. Strong measures are needed to prevent substandard Chinese products from circulating domestically.”
Bolts and nuts, critical safety components for fastening parts, are estimated to have a 35% market share for Chinese products. Jeong Han-sung, chairman of the Korea Federation of Fastener Industry Cooperatives, noted, “There have been precedents of water tank explosions and amusement ride overturns due to untested Chinese bolts with insufficient strength and fastening power.” He stressed, “Domestic products must undergo KS certification and clearly state their origin.”