According to Mr Luo Tiejun an official with Raw Material Department of Ministry of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in a meeting on January 5 2012, China steel consumption might peak in 2015-2020.

He said that China steel consumption is expected to be 750 million tonnes in 2015 with the peak of 770 million tonnes and 820 million tonnes in 2015-2020.

Overcapacity haunts China steel industry in the past few years and current crude steel capacity has been more than 700 million tonnes. The nation has restructured steel industry for several times. However, China crude steel production and consumption successively hit new high in face of excess capacity.

Mr Zhu Jimin Chairman of China Iron and Steel Association said China crude steel production is expected to reach 683 million tonnes in 2011 an increase of about 9.2%.

(Source: www.steelhome.cn/en)

China steel information centre and industry database