China's Dominance in Global Fastener Production: Trends in Infrastructure and EV Manufacturing

China is the world's largest fastener exporter by value, and its export volume hit a record high in 2025. Chinese customs data shows exports worth about US $10.04 billion that year, against imports of about US $2.35 billion. Two sectors are shaping where its output goes next: infrastructure and electric vehicles (EVs).

This article looks at both, and at what they mean for suppliers looking to reach buyers at Fastenex, ITE Group's fastener exhibition in Moscow.

China's Global Fastener Production

China holds a leading position in the global fastener industry, supported by its extensive manufacturing capabilities and international trade reach. According to World Bank WITS trade data, China was the world's largest exporter of bolts and screws under HS code 731815 in 2024, recording exports worth approximately US$4.27 billion. 

Gem-Year Industrial Co., Ltd., recognized as a leading manufacturer of industrial fasteners and hardware tools in China, alone has a yearly production of 200,000 metric tonnes of fasteners and metal products. 

Germany followed with around US$3.08 billion. Chinese fasteners reached markets worldwide, including the United States, Vietnam, Germany, and the UAE. These figures demonstrate China's export strength in this product category, although export rankings alone do not measure total production.

How big is China's lead?

China's fastener exports reached about US$11.92 billion in 2025, up roughly 4.1% year on year, according to preliminary customs statistics. The average export price fell about 2.4%, which the report puts down to global competition, rising capacity in emerging economies, and inflation and raw material costs. The top 30 destinations took 78.3% of export value, down from 79.6% in 2024, so the market is becoming more diverse.

Imports tell the other half of the story. China also buys fasteners from abroad, mostly high-end ones. In the first half of 2025, imports of steel fasteners under HS 

7318 were about US$1.13 billion, down 8.3% from a year earlier. The top five sources were Japan, the United States, Germany, Taiwan, and Italy, known for high-precision, high-quality parts.

Russia is a major market. It was China's third-largest fastener export destination, with about US $569 million, down 6% year on year. 

Infrastructure keeps demand for structural fasteners high

China's high-speed rail network passed 50,000 km at the end of 2025, more than the rest of the world's high-speed lines combined. It took only four years to grow from 40,000 km to 50,000 km, and China Railway aims to be about 60,000 km by 2030.

Russia's market shows how infrastructure feeds fastener demand. Fastener industry trends indicate infrastructure projects as a driver of demand. Class 10.9 and 12.9 high-strength fasteners are among the most stable segments, used in bridge construction, heavy engineering, energy and mining.

NEVs change what automakers ask of a fastener

China produced about 34.5 million vehicles in 2025 and new energy vehicle (NEV) production and sales each passed 16 million. Total vehicle exports topped 7 million units, including roughly 2.6 million NEVs.

While electric vehicles require fewer overall parts than combustion engines, battery packs, traction motors, and thermal management systems introduce complex engineering challenges. Joining lightweight aluminium structures with steel fasteners, for instance, creates galvanic corrosion risks that require specialised surface treatments like zinc-flake coatings.

Global fastener manufacturing trends suppliers should watch

Three trends stand out for anyone in fastener manufacturing.

Buyers are looking beyond price 

The Fastenex trends review says buyers in Russia now look beyond price to reliability, corrosion resistance, proven quality, and transparent product origin. Fastener World describes the same shift among Chinese producers, with competition moving from scale towards technology and value-added capability. Fastenex reports that manufacturers who invest in digital quality control, coatings and modern heat treatment gain a significant competitive advantage.

Standards are tightening

Russia is gradually moving to GOST R ISO standards harmonised with ISO, according to the same Fastenex review. That means stricter labelling, testing and documentation, especially for high-strength, anchor and stainless steel fasteners.

Import dependence creates openings

Russia's market is still highly dependent on imports, with cheap imports holding a large share of the mass market. The fastenex review  expects the market to keep growing in 2026 amid import substitution, higher quality requirements and technological upgrading of production facilities. 

Where exhibitors can meet these buyers

Fastenex is ITE Group's international exhibition for fasteners, fixings, and industrial supply solutions in Moscow. The 2026 edition runs from the 6 to the 9 of October at Hall 4, Pavilion 1, Crocus Expo, co-located with Weldex. The show covers 11 sectors, including industrial fasteners and hardware, construction fasteners, and equipment for the production of fasteners. China Fastener Magazine is one of its media partners.

Exhibitors can meet procurement specialists, manufacturers, and engineers who source fasteners and hardware for heavy-duty operations and large-scale projects. Products on show will include bolts, nuts and screws, anchors and rivets, coatings and finishing systems, and assembly tools. A matchmaking platform lets exhibitors schedule meetings before the show, and the organisers provide visa assistance, freight and logistics guidance, translation, and on-site support for international companies.

If your business makes high-strength fasteners, EV components, coatings, or production equipment, Fastenex puts you in front of buyers who are weighing quality, compliance, and origin alongside price. Enquire to exhibit to find out how to secure your stand.