NDRC: Slowdown in growth of Chinese crude steel output in 2010

According to the latest figures issued by China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), in 2010 total Chinese crude steel output amounted to 626.65 million mt, rising by 9.3 percent year on year; however, this growth rate was 4.2 percentage points lower than in 2009. Meanwhile, China's finished steel production in 2010 totaled 796.27 million mt, up 14.7 percent year on year, with this growth rate down 3.8 percentage points compared to 2009.
 
In addition, in 2010 China produced 387.57 million mt of coke, up 9.1 percent year on year. Furthermore, China imported 618.63 million mt of iron ore in the year in question, down 1.4 percent year on year. Meanwhile, China's coke exports rose by 5.1 times year on year in 2010 to 3.35 million, its finished steel exports increased by 73 percent year on year to 42.56 million mt, while its finished steel product imports in 2010 reached 16.43 million mt, down 6.8 percent compared with 2009.