China's crude steel output increased 10.6% year-on-year to 469.28Mt in the first eight months, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The growth rate was 4.7% points lower than that in the same period a year ago, the ministry said on its website.

In August, steel output rose 13.8% year-on-year, compared with a drop of 1.1% a year earlier.

Steel export dipped 250kt fromn July to 4.19Mt, while imports increased 110kt to 1.35Mt.