China’s steel sheet/plate exports totaled 28.18 million mt in the January-June period of the current year, up 26.5 percent year on year, according to the Chinese customs authorities. This is a slower rise than the 35.1 percent recorded in the first five months of this year.
Though most Chinese mills kept their steel production at high levels and were interested in selling abroad in June, the lower export volumes during the month reflected the slowdown in demand in late April and in May, when most of the cargoes for June shipment were sold.
In June alone, China exported 4.83 million mt of steel sheet/plate, down 1.5 percent year on year, while declining by 11.7 percent month on month.
