What’s
new: China’s steel output grew a mere 1.3% in the first half with most of the
growth achieved in the first three months, showing a sluggish demand amid an
ailing property sector.
China
produced 535.6 million tons of crude steel in the first six months, data published
Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics showed. Output increased 5.6%
year-on-year in the first two months and 6.9% in March before declining 1.5% in
April and 7.3% in May. Steel plants slightly increased production by 0.4% in
June.