In the first quarter of 2010, China imported 4.1114 million mt of finished steel, up 11.8 percent, and 156,500 mt of semi-finished steel, down 481 percent, equal to imports of 4.5305 million mt of crude steel, up 183,400 mt or 4.22 percent, all on year-on-year basis.
During the period in question, China exported 8.7095 million mt of finished steel, up 70 percent, and 12,200 mt of semi-finished, down 500 percent, equal to exports of 9.2776 million mt of crude steel, up 3.8129 million mt or 69.75 percent, all on year-on-year basis.
Thus, in the first quarter, China's net crude steel exports came to 4.7473 million mt, up 3.6275 million mt or by 3.24 times compared with the same period of last year.