China exported 4.85 million mt of finished steel in February, up 4.2% month on month but down 15.7% year on year, latest customs data showed.

The country’s steel imports dropped to 1.03 million mt last month, from 1.19 million mt in January this year.

Rebar production from 30 major long steel manufactures across China is set to amount to 6.76 million mt in March, up by 8% from the actual output in February. The output is seen to rise as the production limits during the heating season will be relieved on March 15.

Hot-rolled coil output is also expected to be higher, at 8.53 million mt, up by 147,500 mt from last month.

Of the production in March, 688,500 mt of hot-rolled coil is expected to be exported, down 95,500 mt month on month.

On iron ore, China’s imports amounted to 84.27 million mt in February, down 16% month on month, but up 0.9% year on year.

source: from internet

• [Editor:Wang Linyan]