China Watch

China steel exports fall 13.8% in Feb.

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:28:00 GMT

China’s finished steel exports dropped in February as buyers were put off by a rapid run-up in export prices between mid-December and mid-January, when export transactions for February shipment were booked.

China finished steel shipments to Latin America up 27%

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:14:00 GMT

China’s exports of finished steel products to Latin America totaled 4.6 million tonnes last year, up 27 percent from 2011, according to regional steel association Alacero.

Jiaozuo invests $7.6M in carbon anode venture

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:37:00 GMT

SHANGHAI — Chinese aluminum producer Jiaozuo Wanfang Aluminum Manufacturing Co. Ltd. will spend 47.33 million yuan ($7.6 million) to set up carbon anode venture Jiaozuo Wandu Investment Holding Co.

China steel market shrugs off new property restrictions

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:28:00 GMT

China’s latest restrictions on the property market might have rattled property stocks and the steel market earlier this week, but they could have less impact than first feared, market participants told AMM sister publication Steel First.

China cold-roll tags dip but buyers still waiting

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Chinese cold-rolled sheet prices into the United States have started to pull back after a run up in the weeks leading up to the country’s Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February.

China infrastructure spending expected to help steel recovery in 2013

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:38:00 GMT

China’s steel sector will recover solidly this year, helped by stronger government infrastructure spending, despite recent setbacks, one analyst said.

Metallurgical coal import tags dip in weak market

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:02:00 GMT

China’s metallurgical coal import market lost traction during the week ended March 1, with few buyers in the market, traders told AMM sister publication Steel First.

Hongfan enters accord to fund Alufer bauxite project

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:55:00 GMT

Alufer Mining Ltd. has reached an agreement with China’s Hongfan Industries for the development of its Bel Air bauxite project in Guinea in a deal that could also result in a 5-million-tonne-per-year bauxite offtake arrangement.

Sale of big CMR stake still ‘under way’

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:27:00 GMT

The sale of China Metal Recycling (Holdings) Ltd. (CMR) shares by chairman and chief executive officer Jacky Chun to a Chinese state-owned group is still planned, even as trading of the scrap company’s shares remains suspended.

China H-beam export prices stable as mills try to shore up mart

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:33:00 GMT

China’s H-beam export prices were stable this week, with steelmakers still trying to shore up the market.

China's daily output of crude steel tops 2M tonnes

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:39:00 GMT

China’s daily crude steel output surpassed 2 million tonnes in mid-February, up 0.9 percent from the first 10 days of the month, according to China Iron and Steel Association (Cisa) estimates.

China steel plate export market weakens

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:18:00 GMT

China’s steel plate export market started to weaken Feb. 27 as transactions slowed and domestic prices declined.

China demand for iron ore imports expected to rise 3.5%

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:53:00 GMT

Chinese demand for imported iron ore is expected to increase 3.5 percent to 770 million tonnes in 2013, China Iron and Steel Association (Cisa) deputy secretary-general Li Xinchuang said.

Chinese stainless flat product exports fall

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Chinese exports of stainless flat products dropped in January, falling 6.3 percent month on month to 146,206 tonnes from 156,035 tonnes in December, according to Chinese customs data.

China cold-rolled coil export volumes, prices step back

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:41:00 GMT

Chinese cold-rolled coil export volumes declined sharply in January as some European buyers shunned higher prices.

Japan behind slip in China's ferrous scrap imports

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:19:00 GMT

China’s ferrous scrap imports dipped slightly in January from the previous month but still remained above a year earlier.

China’s imports of iron ore, coking coal fall in January

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:14:00 GMT

China’s imports of iron ore and coking coal decreased in January compared with the previous month, the latest Chinese customs data show.

China steel sector faces new pollution rules

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:22:00 GMT

Chinese steelmakers could face further financial pressure after the country’s Ministry of Environmental Protection said it would impose new emissions rules on new steel mills as early as March 1.

Asian scrap prices rise in scramble for material

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:45:00 GMT

Some mills in Southeast Asia appear to be short of ferrous scrap after the Lunar New Year holiday.

China’s imported met coal market quiet after holiday

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:18:00 GMT

China’s market for imported metallurgical coal remained quiet after the weeklong Chinese New Year holiday, with few transactions.

China’s exports of coke tumble to 9-month low

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:46:00 GMT

China’s coke exports hit a nine-month low in January despite the lifting of restrictions on shipments.

Chinese steel demand to slow: WSD

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:46:00 GMT

A slowdown in Chinese steel demand and an increase in the nation’s ferrous scrap reserves could rock U.S. markets in the next decade, depending on Chinese government policy, according to World Steel Dynamics Inc. (WSD).

China’s daily output of crude steel logs early-Feb. gain

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:50:00 GMT

China’s daily crude steel output in the first 10 days of February rose 4.3 percent from late January, the China Iron and Steel Association (Cisa) said.

Chinese demand for met coal expected to rise steadily

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:20:00 GMT

China’s demand for metallurgical coal will increase steadily in 2013, according to Sun Xuefeng, deputy general manager of Beijing-based Sinosteel Raw Materials Co. Ltd.

Second round of antimony buys by China state reserve eyed

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:08:00 GMT

China’s State Reserve Bureau (SRB) could soon conduct a second round of antimony buying to make up for a shortfall in a tender late last year, according to market sources.

China crude stainless steel output tops 16 million tonnes in ’12

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:40:00 GMT

China’s crude stainless steel production rose 14.2 percent to 16.09 million tonnes last year, according to the China Stainless Steel Council (CSSC).

China tightening steel trade financing controls

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:06:00 GMT

Chinese authorities are striving to clean up domestic steel trading in the wake of last year’s warehousing scandals.

China met coal import prices rise due to Australia flooding

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:54:00 GMT

China’s metallurgical coal import prices rose during the week ended Feb. 1 due to floods in Australia caused by tropical cyclone Oswald.

China steelmakers expecting weaker results

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:38:00 GMT

Three of China’s biggest steelmakers have warned that they expect poor 2012 earnings, blaming weak demand and lower steel prices amid China’s economic slowdown last year.

SHFE's crude oil contract to transform trade

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:32:00 GMT

The commodity futures trade in China will be transformed by the Shanghai Futures Exchange’s (SHFE’s) proposed crude oil contract as the exchange looks at how to facilitate offshore involvement, according to Sebastian Pang, head of energy APAC ex-Japan at Newedge Financial Singapore Pte Ltd.

Secondary aluminum facing tougher output requirements in China

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:31:00 GMT

China might soon double the minimum capacity required for companies to start secondary aluminum production.

China's aluminum consolidation drive may benefit Chalco

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:18:00 GMT

The drive for industry consolidation and restructuring by China’s leadership is expected to benefit big companies, such as Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. (Chalco), according to market participants.

China coke output up in ’12, outstrips pig iron, steel

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:13:00 GMT

China’s coke production growth outpaced that of pig iron and crude steel in 2012, gaining 5.2 percent from the previous year to 443.23 million tonnes, according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data.

Notice: E-mail a Friend function on amm.com

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:21:00 GMT

Due to technical difficulties, we have removed the “E-mail a Friend” function from our website and taken away the ability to e-mail comments to colleagues. We hope to have the issue resolved as soon as possible and apologize for any inconvenience.

China steel demand to rise in ’13

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:01:00 GMT

Steel demand in China is expected to increase 3.1 percent in 2013, up from 2.5-percent growth in 2012, according to the China Iron and Steel Association (Cisa).

Chen tapped to step up as Airbus China president

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:55:00 GMT

Airbus China has promoted Eric Chen to president, where he will lead the management team of the subsidiary of European commercial transport builder Airbus SAS.

Canada completes initial injury probe on galvanized wire

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:09:00 GMT

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has completed its preliminary injury inquiry into a dumping complaint against galvanized steel wire from China, Israel and Spain.

Commerce rescinds review of steel pipe imports

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:07:00 GMT

The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) has rescinded its anti-dumping duty administrative review of imports of circular-welded carbon-quality steel pipe from China from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012.

China iron ore imports hit record in ’12

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:55:00 GMT

China generally imported more steelmaking raw materials last year compared with 2011, Chinese customs data show.

China iron ore production up 14.5% in ’12

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:32:00 GMT

China’s run-of-mine iron ore output rose 14.5 percent to 1.31 billion tonnes last year from a revised 1.14 billion tonnes in 2011, according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data.

Alcoa sees aluminum ‘essentially balanced’

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:04:00 GMT

The global aluminum market will be more or less balanced in 2013, with most of the year’s production and demand growth to come from China, according to Tim Reyes, president of Alcoa Materials Management.

China’s output of crude steel up 3% in 2012

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:24:00 GMT

China, the world’s largest steelmaker, produced 716.54 million tonnes of crude steel in 2012, up 3.1 percent from the previous year, National Bureau of Statistics data show.

Scrap imports slow as prices move upward

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:46:00 GMT

Chinese steel mills and traders are reluctant to book overseas scrap cargoes as prices have jumped.

Chalco unit wins approval for automotive aluminum

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:52:00 GMT

Southwest Aluminium (Group) Co., a unit of Aluminium Corp. of China (Chalco), has become China’s first globally recognized supplier of material for automotive applications.

US, China are ‘scrap hubs’ to watch in 2013: Stein

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:35:00 GMT

The United States and China will continue to be the driving forces of the global scrap industry, according to one scrap industry executive.

HKEx charts growth plan for mainland China; commodities key

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:30:00 GMT

A breakthrough in the opening of China’s capital account is likely to be seen first in commodities markets, Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. (HKEx) chief executive officer Charles Li said Jan. 15 at a briefing in Hong Kong.

Chinese organic coated steel subsidized: EU

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:19:00 GMT

China is subsidizing its organic coated steel producers, the European Commission determined this week, paving the way for companies in the region to seek higher import tariffs on Chinese products, according to the Financial Times.

China coke exports said unlikely to reach previous highs

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:47:00 GMT

Chinese coke exports are not expected to surge to previous high levels despite the removal of a 40-percent tax and quota, industry sources told AMM sister publication Steel First.

Chinese alumina imports surge

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:28:00 GMT

China’s imports of alumina and copper scrap rose last year, with alumina more than doubling to 5.02 million tonnes while copper scrap gained 3.7 percent from 2011 to 4.86 million tonnes, customs data show.

China iron ore imports hit record high

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:25:00 GMT

China imported 70.94 million tonnes of iron ore in December, marking a new historical high, as well as a rise of 7.8 percent vs. November, initial customs data show.

Taigang targets stainless output of 3.4M tonnes

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:46:00 GMT

China’s Taigang Stainless Steel Co. Ltd. will ramp up stainless crude steel production by nearly 10 percent in 2013.

China nixes coking coal export quota after removal of tax

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:28:00 GMT

China has ended its export quota on coking coal following the removal of the country’s export tax on the material in mid-December.

China may raise wire rod export rebate

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:57:00 GMT

A rumor that the Chinese government is going to raise the export rebate for boron-containing wire rod began circulating Friday, the country’s first working day of the year.

Chinese demand to boost global coking coal

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:23:00 GMT

Riding on China, global coking coal demand is expected to improve in 2013.

Volatile year leaves China steelmakers facing a loss

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:27:00 GMT

For China’s steelmakers, 2012 was another challenging, volatile and—for many—loss-making year.

Chinese hot-rolled export prices rise $5/tonne

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:17:00 GMT

Chinese hot-rolled steel coil export prices climbed again Monday amid improving market sentiment, sources said.

Chinese steel plate export prices rise

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:17:00 GMT

Chinese steel plate export prices rose another $10 per tonne this week as producers raised tags in response to a firm domestic market.

Iron ore spot prices reach 6-month high in China

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:13:00 GMT

China’s iron ore import market gained momentum Thursday on stronger steel prices and tight supply.

China sets antimony, tin export quotas

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:06:00 GMT

China has approved an export quota of 40,672 tonnes of antimony and antimony products for the first half of next year, according to its Ministry of Commerce.

China refined copper exports rise for 3d month

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:02:00 GMT

China’s refined copper exports climbed for a third consecutive month in November as smelters there were said to have increased sales of toll-rolled product after a tax cancellation and improved export arbitrage.

Met coal import market stable ahead of holidays

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:01:00 GMT

China’s metallurgical coal import market was stable during the week ending Dec. 21, traders told AMM sister publication Steel First.

Antimony smuggling lands 3 arrests: report

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:54:00 GMT

Three people have been arrested in China for allegedly smuggling antimony, according to a Dec. 21 report in Guangzhou Daily.

China removes taxes targeted by WTO case

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:23:00 GMT

China has apparently decided to heed a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling by removing a range of raw material export taxes that were the target of a successful complaint.

China's early Dec. crude steel production decreases 0.8%

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:45:00 GMT

China’s crude steel output fell 0.8 percent to just shy of 1.95 million tonnes for the first 10 days of December from 1.96 million tonnes in late November, China Iron and Steel Association (Cisa) data show.

China's stainless outlook for first quarter bright despite rising supply

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:00:00 GMT

The first-quarter outlook for China’s stainless steel market is upbeat despite rising supply.

Don’t hold your breath, as a Chinese iron ore tax cut may not fly: mart

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:21:00 GMT

Despite recent speculation that the Chinese government could support domestic iron ore producers by slashing taxes by as much as half, such a move may be unlikely as it would be very complicated and possibly ineffective in practice, sources told AMM sister publication Steel First.

Reductions in Chinese ferroalloys export tariffs being mulled for 2013

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:27:00 GMT

Speculation is mounting that China will cut export taxes on ferroalloys in 2013, not only to support local producers but also in response to a ruling that the tariffs broke World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

China’s auto sales, output register gains in November

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:16:00 GMT

Chinese automobile sales rose to nearly 1.8 million units in November, according to data released this week by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), up 11.5 percent from a month earlier and 8.2 percent higher than the same month last year.

Aluminum defies trend as most metallics log output gains in November

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:26:00 GMT

Aluminum bucked the rising trend in Chinese metals production in November, with the light metal registering a seven-month low as other metallics reached new heights.

Erdos bullish about Chinese ferrosilicon prices

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:09:00 GMT

China’s largest ferrosilicon producer, Erdos Metallurgy Group Co. Ltd., expects local ferrosilicon prices to remain firm until the Chinese New Year in February.

Chinese steel exports rise 6% in Nov.

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:49:00 GMT

China’s steel exports rose again last month as bookings went up following a price increase in October.

China's Nov. iron ore imports reach 2d-highest level in history

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:12:00 GMT

China’s iron ore imports jumped in November to the second-highest monthly level in history as steel mills replenished stocks.

Yuguang to lift lead, zinc capacity

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:39:00 GMT

Henan Yuguang Gold & Lead Co. Ltd., China’s largest lead smelter, plans to boost its lead capacity by 75 percent and zinc capacity by 67 percent by 2015.

Ban costing Vale up to $3/T on iron ore

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Brazilian miner Vale SA is losing $2 to $3 per tonne on iron ore shipped to China due to a port ban on its Valemax vessels, according to Jose Carlos Martins, the company’s iron ore chief.

China's crude steel output posts 0.4% increase in late Nov.

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:42:00 GMT

China’s crude steel production for the final 10 days of November increased 0.4 percent from the preceding 10 days, according to estimates from the China Iron and Steel Association (Cisa).

HKEx in ‘coopetition’ with Asian giant, but isn’t its puppet: exec

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:30:00 GMT

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. (HKEx) both coexists and competes with China, a situation that won’t change as China opens up its capital account and links between the two countries deepen, a senior HKEx executive said.

Chinese ferrosilicon prices rise on higher demand

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:52:00 GMT

Chinese ferrosilicon tags increased further this week as sentiment was buoyed by higher prices from steel mills.

China's plate export prices dip further on slow business

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:32:00 GMT

Chinese steel plate export prices saw a further dip this week due to slow transactions and a decline in the domestic market.

China spot steel tags mostly flat, outlook is murky

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:01:00 GMT

China’s spot steel tags were mostly unchanged Tuesday as market players stood on the sidelines due to a cloudy outlook.

Sims targets growing China scrap generation

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Sims Metal Management Ltd. will capitalize on China’s scrap generation through its strategic partnership with recycler Chiho-Tiande Group Ltd.

Chinese steel output drops slightly in mid-Nov.

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:40:00 GMT

China’s crude steel production fell 0.2 percent in mid-November compared with the first 10 days of the month, according to China Iron and Steel Association (Cisa) estimates.

China approves $7.95B in rail projects

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:27:00 GMT

China has approved rail projects valued at 49.47 billion yuan ($7.95 billion) for two cities.

Scrap imports hit 20-month low in October, other raw materials mixed

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:08:00 GMT

China’s imports of ferrous scrap during October plunged to their lowest level since February 2011, while other steelmaking raw materials saw mixed results, according to Chinese customs data.

Chinese auto exports fall in Sept. vs. Aug.

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:18:00 GMT

China exported 106,200 automobiles in September, down 5.5 percent from August, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said Nov. 20, as a slide in commercial vehicle exports offset an increase in passenger car shipments.

Jinchuan raises nickel capacity

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:15:00 GMT

Jinchuan Group Ltd.’s total annual nickel capacity will rise to 150,000 tonnes this year with the start-up of its extended smelting line, according to an industry source.

China's crude steel output up in early November

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:13:00 GMT

China’s crude steel output increased further in November as steelmakers rushed to boost production on price gains.

WTO adopts report on electrical steel duties

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:20:00 GMT

The World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Body adopted a report Friday in a final ruling on Chinese duties on U.S. shipments of grain-oriented flat-rolled electrical steel.

Commerce rescinds review of steel from three Chinese firms

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:38:00 GMT

The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) has rescinded its anti-dumping duty administrative review of hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from China’s Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., Baosteel Group Corp. Ltd. and Shanghai Baosteel International Economic & Trading Co. Ltd.

China iron ore imports seen growing; tax cuts said needed

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:37:00 GMT

China is expected to import as much as 800 million tonnes of iron ore in 2013, up at least 4 percent from this year, due to higher steel output and constrained domestic iron ore supply.

China's SRB purchases 100,000T each zinc, aluminum

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:41:00 GMT

China’s State Reserve Bureau (SRB) bought 100,000 tonnes each of refined zinc and aluminum Friday.

Maike, Jinchuan plan nickel, copper trading venture

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:15:00 GMT

Maike Metals Group and Jinchuan Group Co. Ltd. have established a framework agreement for a metals trading joint venture.

Chinese steelmakers lower H-beam export prices to boost sales

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:59:00 GMT

Chinese H-beam export offers fell this week as steelmakers made cuts in an effort to bolster sales.

China aluminum, copper output remains high

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:41:00 GMT

China’s production of aluminum and copper remained high in October, according to data from the country’s National Bureau of Statistics.

China's finished steel exports to Latin America up in Sept.

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:33:00 GMT

Chinese exports of finished steel products to Latin American countries totaled 439,057 tonnes in September, up 28 percent from the previous month, according to Latin American steel association Alacero.

Improved Chinese steel demand lifts ferroalloys production

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:03:00 GMT

Chinese ferroalloys output registered a small increase in October on the back of improved demand from the steel sector.

Curbed mining sinks China's daily iron ore production

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:38:00 GMT

China’s daily run-of-mine output of 4.03 million tonnes per day in October was down 6.3 percent from September’s record high due to reduced mining activities during the month, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

SRB set to bid for aluminum Wednesday; no word on copper

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:38:00 GMT

China’s State Reserve Bureau (SRB) will meet Wednesday in Beijing to bid for aluminum from Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. (Chalco) and its affiliates, market sources said.

China's steel exports decline 6% in October

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:34:00 GMT

China’s steel exports fell again in October on fewer bookings after a quick and strong price rebound in September.

China’s rare earth producers halt output on falling prices

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:52:00 GMT

China’s largest rare earth producers have shut down operations in response to a sharp fall in prices in recent weeks.

New Chinese leaders to boost growth: Kleinfeld

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:58:00 GMT

China is set to push ahead with a vast infrastructure program that will boost economic growth as the country’s leadership change takes place, according to Klaus Kleinfeld, chairman and chief executive officer of Pittsburgh-based aluminum producer Alcoa Inc.