China reduces stainless steel imports and exports

Overall, China's stainless steel exports in the first half of this year totalled 2.04 million tonnes, down 15.8% from the same period last year.

Stainless steel imports into China decreased further. In June, they decreased to 118 thousand tonnes, the lowest level since April 2020. This is 16.7 per cent lower than in May and 56.5 per cent lower than in June 2022. At the same time, 91 thousand tonnes of stainless products came from Indonesia to China.

In the first half of the year, Chinese companies imported 842.8 thousand tonnes of stainless steel. Compared to the same period last year, foreign purchases decreased by 49.9%. Of these, 643 thousand tonnes came from Indonesia. Compared to January-June 2022, the decrease was 54.7%.