SHANGHAI, Jul 27 (SMM) - According to National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), in May, the national crude steel production was 99.45 million mt, up 6.6% year on year, and the growth rate increased by 2.4 percentage points; steel production increased by 7.9%, an increase of 1.7 percentage points. Coke production increased by 0.3%, which declined 3.2% in the same period last year. Ferroalloy production increased by 10.6%, which declined 3.5% in the same period last year. Steel exports were 5.27 million mt (according the customs), down 2.7 million mt than the previous month; imports were 1.21 million mt, an increase of 40,000 tons over the previous month.
From January to May, the national crude steel production reached 473.1 million mt, an increase of 13.9% year on year, with growth rate up 12 percentage points yoy; steel production was 576.57 million mt, an increase of 16.8% yoy, with growth rate up 15.6 percentage points yoy. Coke production was 198.18 million mt, up 5.9% year on year, which declined 208% in the same period last year. Ferroalloy production was 15.09 million mt, up 9.7% year on year, with growth rate up 8.7 percentage points yoy. Steel exports were 30.92 million mt, up 23.7% yoy; imports were 6.1 million mt, up 11.6% yoy. Iron ore imports were 471.77 million mt, an increase of 6% yoy.
Steel prices rose over the previous month. In May, the average domestic market steel price composite index was 157.31 points, 11.77 points higher than last month, 57.48 points higher than last year. 6 mm steel wire rod average price was 5797 yuan/mt, up 10.5% over the previous month, up 54.4% over last year; 20 mm steel plate average price was 5945 yuan/mt, up 7.4% over the previous month, up 58.5% over last year; 1.0 mm cold-rolled sheet average price was 6574 yuan/mt, up 8.7% over the previous month, up 63.7% over last year.
