According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, in the first 11 months of the current year total output of finished steel in China came to 870.41 million mt.
Based on data from the Chinese customs authorities, in the January-November period China’s finished steel export and import volumes amounted respectively to 50.88 million mt and 12.61 million mt.
Accordingly, apparent finished steel consumption in China in the January-November period totaled 832 million mt, up 6.8 percent year on year. China’s average monthly finished steel consumption in the first 11 months was over 75 million mt. It is anticipated that China’s total finished steel consumption in 2012 will exceed 900 million mt.