Production of stainless steel in China totalled 7.082mt (on crude basis) in H1 2012, according to the Stainless Steel Council of China Special Steel Enterprises Association.
As this year’s statistics cover more producers than before, the H1 figure is not comparable with the figure for the same period last year, said the Council. However, it estimates the output of crude stainless steel increased by 5.25% y-o-y in H1 this year based on those companies that reported previously. In these terms, the output of Cr-Ni series stainless rose by 3.12%, that of Cr- Mn series increased by 8.36%, while that of Cr series was up by 8.2%.
In H1, stainless steel imports totalled 387.9kt, down 15.4% y-o-y. Stainless exports were 1Mt, down 9.19% y-o-y.
According to the Council, apparent stainless steel consumption in China was 5.614Mt in H1 2012, an increase of 330kt, or 6.88%, over the same period of last year in comparable terms.
Source: China Metals e-mail infochn@public.bta.net.cn
