[ferro-alloys.com]Chinese Special Steel Enterprise Association Stainless Steel Branch published the data of crude stainless steel production and its apparent consumption from January to September in 2018:

1. The output of crude stainless steel was 20.7467 million tons. It increased by 1.6251 million tons (8.5%)compared to the volume last year. The output of Cr-Ni steel (300 series) was 9.3842 million tons. It decreased by 0.2705 million tons (2.8%). It occupied 45.23% of total output volume。 The proportion declined by 5.26%. The output of Cr steel (400 series) was 4.126 million tons. It increased by 0.4636 million tons (12.66%). It occupied 19.89% of total output volume. The proportion rose up by 0.73%.The output of Cr-Mn steel (200 series, including some products that does not confirm to the national standard) was 7.122 million tons. It increased by 1.3881 million tons (24.21%). It occupied 34.33% of total output volume. The proportion rose up by 4.34%. The output of duplex stainless steel was 114449 tons. It increased by 43854 tons (62.12%) compared to the volume in 2017

The drastic change of the product structure is caused by substantial increase of import volume.

1. It is predicted that the apparent consumption may be 16.4571 million tons. The increaing rate may be 9.51% (1.4292 million tons) compared to the volume last year.

• [Editor:王可]