According to customs, China exported steel products of 5.22 million tonnes in June 2012, up 21.4 percent over prior year and increasing by 10,000 tonnes from that in May. In January-June 2012, China¡ˉs steel products exports accumulated 27.2 million tonnes with a year-on-year increment of 11.7 percent.
In June, China imported iron ore of 58.31 million tonnes, up 11.1 percent from a year ago while down by 8.7 percent or 5.53 million tonnes from that in May. In January-June, 2012, iron ore imports in China totaled 370 million tonnte, up 9.7 percent a year ago. In comparison with domestic fatigued steel market, steel mills tended to tussle for overseas markets, and thus China¡ˉs steel products exports hit new high in June.
In May 2012, China¡ˉs boron-content hot rolled coil was quoted at US$ 620-640 per tonne (CNY 4200-4350 per tonne) (FOB, June and July shipments), higher than that of domestic market price. In January-May, 2012, China exported wire rod of 1.914 million tonnes, up 52.6 percent versus prior year, among which, coiled wire rod and hot rolled stainless coiled wire rod hit 13,000 tonnes and 28,000 tonnes separately, down 55.6 percent and 24.9 percent severally from a year ago, and hot rolled alloy coiled exports totaled 1.866 million tonnes with increment of 57.2 percent. However, restricted by current recession of international steel market, China¡ˉs boron-content hot rolled coil quotation dropped to US$ 600-605 per tonne (FOB), with shrinking price differences of domestic market prices.
According to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China¡ˉs curde steel output in January-May increased by 2.2 percent to 296 million tonnes and statistics from China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) showed China¡ˉs crude steel daily average output maintained 1.95 million tonnes in June