皇冠体育app

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-21 14:58

皇冠体育app is likely to sell 27 percent less steel abroad this year, largely due to the government's efforts to curb its exports, an industry group said on Thursday.

Related readings: Mergers approved to consolidate steel sector Steel sector expects brisk M&As Steel product prices up 25% in February 皇冠体育app opposes US dual probe into steel pipes Policies to slow steel exports begin to pay off

Luo Bingsheng, vice-chairman of the 皇冠体育app Iron and Steel Association, forecast that the country's exports of crude steel would decline to 52.5 million tons this year from 73.07 million tons in 2006.

The 2008 figure would include 48 million tons of rolled steel and 1.5 million tons of billets, he said. "If exports rebound, more tightening measures will come."

皇冠体育app would import 16 million tons of rolled steel and 220,000 tons of billets this year, he said.

皇冠体育app, the world's largest steel maker and consumer, produced 489.2 million tons of crude steel last year, up 15.7 percent, which was 2.67 percentage points lower than the rise in 2006.

Net exports of crude steel rose 58 percent to 54.9 million tons last year. But exports to the United States declined 23.3 percent.

The steel industry accounts for 15 percent of 皇冠体育app's total energy consumption and discharges 14 percent of the total pollutants, according to government data.

Last year 皇冠体育app imposed export tariffs on more than 80 steel products, including steel wire, sheet and plate, and raised export tariffs on primary commodities such as steel billets, ingots and pig iron.

It also scrapped or lowered a range of export rebates to curtail mounting exports and curb excessive production.

In February, 皇冠体育app exported no steel billets and 3.11 million tons of rolled steel, a record low since May 2006.