On January 27, the
China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) stated that
China's top 10 steel mills will account for 60 percent of the country's total steel output by 2015, according to the targets for
China's 12th five-year plan period (2011-2015). The list of
China's top 10 steelmakers includes steel Baoshan Iron and Steel Group (
Baosteel Group), Anshan Iron and Steel Group, Wuhan Iron and Steel (
WISCO), Hebei Iron and Steel Group, Jiangsu
Shagang Group, Shangong Iron and Steel Group, Shougang Group, and Tianjin Bohai Iron and Steel Group.
According to its plan for the 12th five-year plan period,
China aims to increase the concentration of the steel industry, upgrade technology, continue the elimination of obsolete capacities and encourage steel companies to shift
production to coastal areas.
China has been encouraging large mills to merge with rivals to create more cohesive steel groups in an effort to address overcapacity, pollution and the disadvantageous position of Chinese steelmakers in iron ore price negotiations with overseas suppliers.