In the January-February period of the current year, China’s crude steel output totaled 125.45 million mt, up 10.6 percent year on year, while its finished steel, coke and ferroalloy outputs came to 158.27 million mt, 73.61 million mt, and 5.1 million mt respectively, up 14.2 percent, 9.8 percent and 20.2 percent, all year-on-year, according to a report issued by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
In January-February, China’s imported iron ore and finished steel volumes amounted to 121.95 million mt and 2 million mt respectively, down 1.5 percent and 6.3 percent year on year. In addition, China imported billet of 100,000 mt during the given period, up 47.7 percent year on year. China’s finished steel and coke exports in January-February this year totaled 9.16 million mt and 170,000 mt, up 28.7 percent and 15.3 percent respectively.
In February, the domestic steel market price index in China was 109.72, down 9.36 percent compared to the same period of last year. The average prices of 6.5 mm wire rod and 20 mm medium plate in the Chinese domestic market in February stood at RMB 3,816/mt ($608.6/mt) and RMB 3,926/mt ($626.2/mt), down 10.9 percent and 8.6 percent year on year. The average price of 1.0 mm CRC in February was at RMB 4,308/mt ($687.1/mt), down 17 percent year on year.