Kong Qingying, general manager of the research department of Chinese investment bank
China International Capital Corporation (CICC), has stated that Chinese steel
consumption growth will probably slow to about 4-5 percent year on year in 2012, mainly due to slowing economic growth.
Ms. Kong said the expected slowdown of steel
consumption in
China is attributable to the overall economic environment, especially the European debt crisis. She also said she expects
China's copper demand will increase by 5-6 percent year on year in 2011, slowing down to five percent year-on-year growth in 2012.