Export of stainless steel in China in January-April decreased by 6%

Stainless steel exports to China declined 6.13% from a year earlier to 596,800 tonnes in the first four months of 2019, driven by reduced shipments to a number of countries such as Indonesia.

Customs data showed that China exported 298,600 tons of stainless steel in April, up 1.2% from March but 20.59% less than April 2018. Exports in January-April decreased by 22.03% on an annualized basis and amounted to 1.1 million tons.

Imports of stainless steel were down 77.01% from a month earlier to 47,900 tons in April, with 8.76% coming from Indonesia. This was largely offset by the fall in imports of sheet /sheet coils, which fell 81.36% to 24,900 tonnes.

Imports in January-April amounted to 498,900 tons, which is 35.16% less than in the same period last year, as China received less Indonesian materials.

In January-April, China imported about 259,600 tons of Indonesian stainless steel, down 52% from the previous year.

Net exports of stainless steel in April were up 12% year-on-year to 250,700 tonnes.