According to the data from the Chinese customs authorities, in July Chinese finished steel exports declined in volume while the volume of iron ore imports increased, both as compared to the month of June.
In July China's finished steel exports totaled 4.55 million mt, 1.07 million mt less than in June but up 151.38 percent year on year. In the January-July period, the country's total finished steel exports reached 28.13 million mt, up 152.1 percent year on year.
In July, China imported 1.4 million mt of finished steel, 70,000 mt less than June and down 19.54 percent year on year. China's total finished steel imports in the first seven months of the year came to 9.83 million mt, down 0.4 percent year on year.
In July, China's semi-finished steel exports were zero. In the same month, the country's semi-finished imports totaled 50,000 mt, up 30,000 mt over June. Total semi-finished imports in the January-July period came to 0.31 million mt, down 90.4 percent year on year.
In July Chinese coke exports totaled 0.59 million mt, up 0.54 million mt year on year. The country's total coke exports in the first seven months amounted to 1.98 million mt, up 599.3 percent year on year.
In July China's iron ore imports reached 51.2 million mt, up 4.03 million mt over June and down 11.85 percent year on year. In the January-July period total iron ore imports came to 360.41 million mt, up 1.5 percent year on year.