China's Real Estate Investment Continues to Decline in First Half of 2026

China's property sector remained under pressure in the first half of 2026, with both real estate investment and new construction activity continuing to weaken.

According to the latest official data, real estate investment fell 11.2% year on year during January-June 2026, extending the downward trend seen since the beginning of the year.

Meanwhile, new construction starts declined 23.4% compared with the same period last year, highlighting ongoing weakness in property development despite government efforts to stabilize the housing market.

The slowdown in construction activity continued to weigh on demand for steel-intensive products, including long steel and construction materials. Market participants expect infrastructure investment and manufacturing demand to remain the main drivers of steel consumption as the property sector gradually adjusts.

                                                                                       VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group