The global widespread of COVID-19 has forced many countries to enforce stringent containment measures which result in a heavy impact on global economic activity. Over the past few months, we saw serious disruption of manpower, transportation and production in China. We are now seeing these scenarios happening around the world.

China’s production of stainless steel in March dropped 13.2% from a year ago, showed SMM data, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

China’s imports and exports of stainless steel declined sharply in the first two months of 2020, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. About 149,060 mt of stainless steel was imported to China in the January-February period, down 38.56% from the same period last year, while exports dropped 11.92% to 442,180 mt.

China produced 29.4 million mt of crude stainless steel in 2019, up 10.08% from 2018, according to data from the Stainless Steel Council of China Special Steel Enterprises Association.

Industrial activity levels outside of central China continues to improve as workers return from quarantine periods and logistics pressures eased.

The SMM Webinar Series continues in March, every Wednesdays 5pm CST. Our analysts will discuss the resumption and recovery of the metals supply chain, as China recovers progressively from COVID-19.

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