The number of China's qualified iron ore importing enterprises has been cut from 108 to 105, as reported by China-based newspaper First Financial Daily on August 15.
In 2005, the China Iron & Steel Association (CISA) and the China Chamber of Commerce for Metals, Mineral and Chemicals Importers and Exporters (CCMCC) cut the number of qualified iron ore importing enterprises in China from 500 to 118. Two years later, the number of qualified iron ore importing enterprises in China was reduced further to 112, while the number was subsequently cut again to 108.