Data from the Chinese customs authorities reveal that in March this year Chinese finished steel exports reached their highest level since July 2010, while finished steel and iron ore imports also increased in the same month.
In March this year, China exported 4.91 million mt of finished steel, up
2.43 million mt month on month, or up 47.45 percent year on year. In the January-March period, China exported 10.51 million mt of finished steel in total, up 20.7 percent year on year.
In March, China imported 1.53 million mt of finished steel, up 0.51 million mt month on month, but down 6.13 percent year on year. In the January-March period, China imported 4.18 million mt of finished steel in total, up 1.6 percent year on year.
In March, China exported zero metric tons of semi-finished steel, and imported 70,000 mt of semi-finished products, up 30,000 mt month on month.
China imported 190,000 mt of semi-finished steel in the first three months of the current year, up 19.7 percent year on year.
Also in March, China exported 0.77 million mt of coke, up 0.73 million mt year on year. In the January-March period, China exported 1.2 million mt of coke in total, up 802.6 percent year on year.
Finally, China imported 59.48 million mt of iron ore in the third month of the current year, up 12.64 million mt month on month, or up 0.8 percent year on year. In the first three months, China imported 177.17 million mt of coke in total, up 14.4 percent.