According to Chinese customs data, in March this year China's finished steel exports totaled 3.33 million mt, up 0.84 million mt compared with February or up 99.4 percent year on year. The total finished steel export volume in the January-March period came to 8.71 million mt, registering a rise of 69.5 percent year on year.
In March, Chinese finished steel imports amounted to 1.63 million mt, up 0.49 million mt over February and showing an increase of 28.3 percent year on year. Total imports in the first quarter came to 4.11 million mt, up 27.3 percent year on year.
In March, China's billet exports stood at zero, with the total amount in the January-March period coming to 10,000 mt. On the other hand, billet imports in March totaled 80,000 mt, up 30,000 mt over February but down 82.6 percent over the same period last year. Total billet imports in the January-March period came to 0.16 million mt, down 82.8 percent year on year.
In March, China's coke exports totaled 40,000 mt, down 10,000 mt year on year. In the first quarter, total coke exports came to 0.13 million mt, down 12.8 percent year on year.
In March, China's iron ore imports amounted to 59.01 million mt, up 9.63 million mt over the previous month or up 13.3 percent year on year. Total iron ore imports in the first quarter came to 155.03 million mt, up 18 percent year on year.