The latest data released by Chinese customs show that national exports of finished steel in December totaled 3.34 million mt, up 490,000 mt month on month and up 5.36 percent year on year. In 2009, China's total exports of finished steel reached 24.6 million mt, down 58.5 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, China's imports of finished steel for December totaled 1.48 million mt, up 190,000 mt month on month and up 59.14 percent year on year. In the January-December period, imports of finished steel totaled 17.63 million mt, up 14.3 percent year on year.
China's semis exports in December stood at 10,000 mt, compared to 20,000 mt in November; meanwhile, semis imports in December stood at 90,000 mt, down 210,000 mt month on month.
In December, China's coke exports reached 70,000 mt, down 68.18 percent year on year. In 2009, the country's total coke exports amounted to 540,000 mt, down 95.5 percent year on year.
China's iron ore imports in December totaled 62.16 million mt, up 11.09 million mt month on month and up 80.02 percent year on year. In 2009, China's iron ore imports came to 627.78 million mt, up 41.6 percent compared with the same period last year.