According to Customs Bureau, China imported 1.16 million tonnes of steel products in July 2012, down 7.2 percent or 90,000 tonnes year on year; the daily imports in July averaged 37,000 tonnes, up 2.1 percent month on month.

China exported 4.32 million tonnes of steel products in July, 2012, decreasing 2.9 percent or 130,000 tonnes year on year; the average daily exports declined 19.8 percent month on month to 139,000 tonnes.

China imported 30,000 tonnes of billet/slab in July, 2012 and there are no exports of steel products.

Converting steel products into crude steel, China crude steel net exports in July reached 3.33 million tonnes, down 1 percent or 30,000 tonnes year on year; the average daily net exports hit 107,000 tonnes, down 25.7 percent month on month.

Besides, China imported iron ore and coke of 57.87 million tonnes and 110,000 tonnes in July 2012, down 440,000 tonnes and 40,000 tonnes severally from that in June.

Source: www.steelhome.cn/en, China steel information centre and industry database

(www.steelguru.com)