According to figures from National Bureau of Statistics, China has produced 420.43 million tonnes of pig iron in January to July 2013, up 6% year on year; 455.80 million tonnes of crude steel, a rise of 7.1% from a year earlier; 609.52 million tonnes of steel products (including post working products), rising 10.4% compared to the same period last year. Daily crude steel production of the whole country hit 2.15 million tonnes and the annualized rate reached 785 million tonnes.

 

In July, China has produced 60.02 million tonnes of pig iron, a rise of 5.0 percent from a year earlier; 65.47 million tonnes of crude steel, up 6.2 percent year on year; 90.75 million tonnes of steel products (including post-working products), increasing 10.9% compared to the same time last year. Daily crude steel production was 2.1119 million tonnes, down 43,600 tonnes or 2.02% month on month. It decreased for consecutive three months.

 

China steel exports edged up while imports waned.

As per statistics from the General Administration of Customs, steel exports totaled 35.83 million tonnes in the first seven months of this year, up 4.30 million tonnes or 13.7% year on year; imports amounted to 8.01 million tonnes, down 100,000 tonnes or 1.3% from a year earlier. Steel semis imports were 340,000 tonnes, up 120,000 tonnes or 54.5% compared to the same period last year.

 

Net exports came to 29.26 million tonnes on crude steel basis, an increase of 4.56 million tonnes or 18.5 percent year on year. Iron ore imports aggregated at 457.23 million tonnes in January to July 2013, up 33.70 million tonnes or 8.0 percent from a year earlier.

 

In July, steel exports were 5.15 million tonnes, down 140,000 tonnes or 2.65 percent month on month; imports were 1.18 million tonnes, up 100,000 tonnes or 9.26 percent from a month earlier. Steel exports decreased for the third straight month. Steel semis imports kept flat at 50,000 tonnes. Net exports were 4.17 million tonnes on crude steel basis, down 260,000 tonnes or 5.8 percent versus June.

 

China steel price hovered low and it rebounded slightly on rising demand and decreasing production& inventory. As of the end of July, CSPI composite steel price index was 100.48 points, up 1.96 points or 1.99 percent versus the end of June and decreased 7.60 points or 7.03 percent from a year earlier.