Chinese Container Steel Consumption Estimates at 2.8 million mt to 4 million mt in 2009

BEIJING, Apr. 27 -- According to Shi Yanqiu, general-secretary of China Container Industry Association, steel demand for containers will jump down largely to 2.8 million tonnes to 4 million tonnes in 2009,Mr Shi said last year, financial crisis posted a maniac rush on international trades, pushing shipping market down to the valley and marking a sudden slash on container demands.

    The world container production and sales volume plunged by 12.62%YoY to 3.425 million TEU, while China's volume dropped 10.53%YoY to about 3.35 million TEU. He said that the H1 of 2009 will be the most doomful times for the container market, though the market had suffered a great loss in 2008.

    Shi said container demands will eye a large decline of 30% to 50% in 2009, in light of expected acute-decrease in container renewing, new transport capacity and shipping increment. He said that the container market restore is mainly decided by the international economy. And, international trades, shipping market confidence and shipping company's purchasing power will all work on the recovery. Although things will be better in H2 along with China and America's come-to-life, there will be many uncertainties in global economy then.

    Shi said at present, container orders stay slim with no signs to go back. But the steel consumption in container market will still have spaces to grow up in the long run, with the development of China economy and global trades.

    (Source: www.jrj.com.cn)