Customs released that China imported 1.5 million tonnes of steel products in April, 2010, down 7.4% or a decrease of 120,000 tonnes year on year and a drop of 120,000 tonnes from March; the country exported 4.31 million tonnes of steel products in April, soaring 205.7 percent or an increment of 2.9 million tonnes upon the same period of 2009, or up 980,000 tonnes over one month earlier.

 

China imported 60,000 tonnes of billet/slab (semis), falling 610,000 tonnes or down 91%YoY, exported zero semis.

 

Translated steel products into crude steel, China imported 1.66 million tonnes of crude steel in April, a drop of 740,000 tonnes or down 30.8 percent from the same month of 2009, while down 130,000 tonnes from March; the country exported 4.59 million tonnes of crude steel, up 3.09 million tonnes or up 205.7%YoY or an increment of 1.04 million tonnes over one month earlier; thus, net crude steel exports realized 2.93 million tonnes, soaring 3.82 million tonnes year on year.

 

In the first four months, China imported 5.61 million tonnes of steel products, an increase of 760,000 tonnes or up 15.7% over the counterpart period of 2009; the country posted 13.02 million tonnes of steel products exports, wining the gain of 6.46 million tonnes or up 98.5%YoY.

 

China imported 57 million tonnes of iron ore in April, up 8.8%, iron ore stockpiles at Chinese ports hit 67 million tonnes, falling 3 million tonnes from March, the data here released by Ministry of Transportation of PRC today.

 

Customs has not given the data yet, but will release soon. In March, Customs reported 59.01 million tonnes of iron ore up by 19.5%MoM.