Stainless Steel Export/Import Data for China- Till November 2018

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS) announced publication of Chinese stainless steel trade data for the initial eleven-month period in 2018. The exports remained more or less unchanged, whereas the imports registered notable increase over the previous year.

According to WBMS, stainless steel exports from China totaled around 3.5 million tonnes (Mt) during January to November in 2018, more or less unchanged when compared with the similar period in 2017. South Korea received 17% of the Chinese exports, followed by Taiwan with 15% share. Vietnam and India accounted for 12% and 6% of total exports by China. The exports to Taiwan registered notable decline.

The exports of hot rolled coils declined considerably from 1.6 Mt to less than 1.4Mt. On the other hand, exports of cold rolled flat products increased year-on-year. Hot rolled flat products, tubes and pipes also registered increase in export volumes.

The Chinese stainless steel imports have surged higher by almost 90% from 0.9 Mt during Jan-Nov ’17 to 1.7 Mt in the first eleven months of 2018. This was mainly driven by phenomenal jump in supplies by Indonesia. The share of imports from Indonesia increased sharply from 30% in 2017 to as high as 62% in 2018. The other primary sources of import were South Korea and Japan which accounted for 13% and 10% share of total Chinese imports.

The primary categories of stainless steel products which recorded notable jump in imports were slabs and hot rolled coils. The import volumes of cold rolled flat products remained more or less flat.