Chinese steel exports fell

Steel exports from China have generally been on the decline since June last year, according to Custeel. The main factor is the impact of good steel prices on the Chinese domestic market, although the anti-dumping duties imposed by the European Union, the United States and Canada have also had some impact. Custeel notes, however, that in many cases cheap products from India and Iran are bought from China.

In February, China exported up to 5.75 million tons in February, which is about 20 percent less than in February last year and one and a half times less than in June 2016. This was the lowest level of exports in a year.

China's main export markets are South Asia and Southeast Europe and the Middle East. There is also the most notable decline. The largest declines in exports were recorded in India and Turkey. Chinese exports to Singapore fell by almost half, and to Thailand and Saudi Arabia by almost half.