East Asia and Southeast Asia continue to be among the top five importers of Chinese steel products in April due to the competitive prices of the latter and the former's economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, Fastmarkets understands.
China's major steel exports
Flat steel: 4.07 million tonnes, up by 5.1% year on year, down by 0.5% from March, according to China Customs data.
Steel bar: 820,000 tonnes, down by 17.9% year on year, down 18.8% month on month
Angles and sections: 310,000 tonnes, up 10.8% year on year, down 22.5% month on month
Steel wire rod: 170,000 tonnes, down 8.1% year on year, down 5.6% month on month
Flat steel attracts export orders on lower prices
Flat steel, which accounted for 64% of the total 6.32 million tonnes of exports in April, was able to maintain its year-on-year growth.
"China's steel mills took large tonnages in export orders for April shipment in February and early March by cutting export offers," a trader in eastern China...