SteelOrbis Shanghai
According to the data released by the Chinese customs authorities, China's finished steel export volume for September reached 6.67 million mt, down 1.01 million mt or 13.2 percent from the previous month and up 2.23 million mt or 50.2 percent year on year. During the January-September period, China exported a total of 48.5 million mt of finished steel, a decline of 2.1 percent year on year, while the total value in question reached $49.8 billion, up 46.5 percent year on year.
In September, China imported 1.27 million mt of finished steel, down 60,000 mt or 4.5 percent over the previous month, and down 160,000 mt or 11.2 percent year on year. During the first nine months of 2008, China's finished steel import volume totaled 12.32 million mt, with a decrease of 660,000 mt or 5.1 percent year on year.
As a result, China's net exports of finished steel in September amounted to 5.4 million mt, down 950,000 mt or 15 percent over the previous month, and up 2.39 million mt or 79.4 percent year on year. During the January-September period, net exports of finished steel totaled 36.18 million mt, down 360,000 mt or one percent year on year.
China's semis exports in September stood at 210,000 mt, down 350,000 mt or 62.5 percent over the previous month while down 140,000 mt or 40 percent year on year. Total semis exports in the January-September period reached 1.13 million mt, down 4.84 million mt or 81.1 percent year on year. Semis imports in September stood at 20,000 mt, neutral year on year and up 10,000 mt or 100 percent month on month. Total imports of the subject product in the January-September period reached 140,000 mt, down 50,000 mt or 26.3 percent year on year.
China's crude steel export volume in September reached 7.23 million mt, down 1.41 million mt or 16.3 percent month on month and up 2.2 million mt or 43.7 percent year on year; meanwhile, net exports of crude steel in September came to 5.96 million mt, down 1.27 million mt or 17.6 percent month on month and up 2.46 million mt or 70.3 percent year on year. Total crude steel exports in the January-September period reached 52.18 million mt, down 5.92 million mt or 10.1 percent year on year, while net exports in this period came to 39.07 million mt, down 5.17 million mt or 11.7 percent year on year.
In addition, China's coke exports in September reached 1.37 million mt, slightly down 40,000 mt or 2.8 percent month on month and down 100,000 mt or 6.8 percent year on year. Total exports of the product in question in the January-September period reached 11.05 million mt, down 680,000 mt or 5.8 percent year on year. The export value for this period totaled $5.21 billion, with an increase of $3.06 billion or 142.3 percent year on year.
Iron ore imports in September stood at 39.2 million mt, up 1.8 million mt or 4.8 percent over the previous month and up 5.96 million mt or 17.9 percent year on year. Total exports in the January-September period reached 346.11 million mt, up 22 percent year on year, while the total value in question came to $48.9 billion, with the average import price rising 77 percent to $141.28/mt.