In September, China imported 1.11 million mt of finished steel, down 7.3 percent year on year, while up 14.3 percent month on month as traders in China started to be more interested in importing steel due to possible profit margin. Import figures will be gradually going up until the end of the year, market sources reported. The steel imports in September were the highest since January, according to customs statistics.
As it was reported earlier in the September-October period, Chinese traders booked a number of cargoes of billets, slabs, pig iron, HBI and even commercial hot rolled coil offers started to come to China. Usually China imports mostly high value added products for special purpose, but not commercial material and semi-finished products.
China imported 8.75 million mt of finished steel during the first nine months of the year, decreasing by 12.2 percent year on year.