Japan ferrosilicon (≤55%) imports down 46.43% YoY in 2020.

The amount exceeded the previous record of 1.08 billion tons in 2017, said the General Administration of Customs.

The American Iron and Steel Association (AISI) compiled a report based on preliminary data released by the US Census Bureau that the imports of steel in December were 1.494 million short tons (1.3553 million tons), an increase of 9% from a month earlier.

China imported 3.57mn t of coking coal last month, down by 4pc from 3.72mn t in November.

According to preliminary data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. steel imports fell 21.2%t to 22.019 million tons in 2020 from a year earlier.

U.S. steel imports increase by 8.9% in December 2020

China's coal imports bounced back in December as domestic demand for the fuel surged during the harsh early winter.

China has sent a strong signal that it will ramp up efforts to curb carbon emissions with a vow to include climate impact in the nation's environmental impact assessment.