In the January-April period of the current year, China’s crude steel output amounted to 314.96 million mt, up 10.1 percent year on year, as announced by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). In the given year, China’s finished steel output and coke output amounted to 370.86 million mt and 151.84 million mt, up 11.1 percent and 6.5 percent year on year, respectively.
As also indicated by the NDRC, in April this year China's average composite steel price index issued by the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) was at 112.05 points, up 2.89 points compared to March and increasing by 0.66 points year on year.
In particular, in April of the current year, the average prices of 6.5 mm high-speed wire rod and 1.0 mm cold rolled coil (CRC) were respectively RMB 4,262/mt ($586.9/mt), and RMB 4,525/mt ($649.3/mt), up 3.5 percent and up1.3 percent month on month, while up 4.6 percent and down 2.5 percent year on year. The prices in question declined by 3.6 percent and 9.4 percent on year-on-year basis, respectively. Meanwhile, in April this year, the average price of 20 mm common medium plate was recorded at RMB 4,129/mt ($590.8), up 2.5 percent month on month, while down 3.1 percent year on year.