China 2007 Steel Products Exports Seen at 51.6m Tons

China steel product exports in 2007 are expected to hit 51.6 mln tons, up 20 pct, the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) said, reflecting a projected slowdown in the second half compared to the first.

China exported 33.79 mln tons of steel products in the first half, up 97.7 pct from a year earlier, while June exports stood at 6.36 mln tons.

Imports of steel products in the first half totaled 8.69 mln tons, down 7.6 pct from a year earlier, while June imports totaled 1.41 mln tons.

Output of crude steel is expected to rise 14 pct year-on-year to 480 mln tons in 2007, while consumption of crude steel is seen at 446 mln tons, up 12 pct, the CISA said.

The CISA added that market demand for crude steel in 2010 is expected to rise to 476-536 mln tons.