According to the data released by the Chinese customs authorities, China's finished steel export volume for April came to 1.41 million mt, down 260,000 mt or 15.6 percent from the previous month and down 3.36 million mt or 70.4 percent year on year. During the January-April period, China exported a total of 6.55 million mt of finished steel, a fall of 9.61 million mt or 59.5 percent year on year.
In April, China imported 1.62 million mt of finished steel, up 350,000 mt or 25.5 percent over the previous month, and up 120,000 mt or eight percent year on year. During the first four months of 2009, China's finished steel import volume totaled 4.85 million mt, marking a decrease of 820,000 mt or 14.5 percent year on year.
As a result, China's net imports of finished steel in April amounted to 210,000 mt.
China's semis exports in April remained at zero. Semis imports in April stood at 670,000 mt, up 210,000 mt or 45.7 percent month on month and up 650,000 mt year on year. Total imports of the subject product in the January-April period stood at 1.57 million mt, up 1.5 million mt year on year.
China's crude steel export volume in April reached 1.48 million mt, down 280,000 mt or 15.9 percent month on month; meanwhile, net imports of crude steel in April came to 900,000 mt, up 860,000 mt month on month.
In addition, China's coke exports in April amounted to 20,000 mt, down 30,000 mt or 60 percent month on month and down 1.32 million mt or 98.5 percent year on year. Total exports of the product in question in the January-April period reached 180,000 mt, down 4.1 million mt or 95.8 percent year on year.
China's iron ore imports hit another record monthly high in April, totaling 57 million mt, up 4.92 million mt or 9.4 percent over the previous month and up 14.15 million mt or 33 percent year on year. Total iron ore imports in the January-April period reached 188.46 million mt, up 34.92 million mt or 22.9 percent year on year.