Chinese CR silicon steel production expected to increase
As only 3 domestic producers, WuSteel, TaiSteel and Baosteel, are currently able to produce non-grain oriented CR silicon steel, the Chinese domestic production has been unable to keep up with market demand. In the period of January-July 2004, China imported 912'000 tons of non-grain oriented silicon steel, up by 30.3% compared to the corresponding period of last year. In the same Jan-July 2004 period, domestic production of the subject product was 560'000 tons, an increase of 14.1% compared to the same period last year. According to market sources, AnSteel will begin trial production of coating non-grain oriented CR silicon steel, and expects to reach a capacity of 800'000 tons in 2005. Therefore, the domestic cold-rolled silicon steel supply-demand balance is expected to improve in 2005.