China’s crude stainless steel output in Jan-June increased by 21pc from the prior-year period to 18.43mn mt. The country’s economy was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020, leading to a weak baseline.
Output of 200 series crude stainless steel was 6.06mn mt, an increase of 21pc over Jan-June 2020. The output accounted for 33pc of the total.
The output of 300 series crude steel was 8.75mn mt, accounting for 47pc and an increase of 14pc from H1 2020. While the output of 400 series was 3.63mn mt, an increase of 37pc over last year.
The country’s stainless steel consumption is set to reach 33mn mt by 2025, according to media reports. Consumption is likely to surge in the construction sector. In China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, the annual consumption growth rate is estimated to be at 6pc.