Posted on 28 Jan 2014
China – a major exporter of long steel products to ASEAN
China’s export of long steel products to ASEAN, mainly bar, wire rod and section, has increased significantly since 2003. The export rose from around 300,000 tonnes in 2002 to around 500,000 tonnes in 2003 and jumped significantly to more than 3 million tonnes in 2007 and 2008. Due to the global financial crisis in 2008, the export of long steel from China to ASEAN dropped sharply to around 900,000 tonnes in 2009. However, the volume jumped robustly to above 5 million tonnes in 2012. For the period January to November 2013, China’s export of long products to ASEAN stood at 7.2 million tonnes, an increase of 54% year-on-year.
China’s export of section to ASEAN saw a relatively moderate increase of 29% y-o-y to 1.3 million tonnes in the first 11 months of 2013 when compared to the increase of export for bar and wire rod. Export of carbon section registered 150,000 tonnes in the first 11 months of 2013, an increase of 38% y-o-y. Meanwhile, export of alloy section saw a significant volume of 1.1 million tonnes in the same period of 2013, an increase of 28% y-o-y. The four major export destinations in the region, each with a significant volume of above 200,000 tonnes were Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
Export of bar from China to the region saw a robust increase of 64% y-o-y to 2.57 million tonnes in the first 11 months of 2013. Almost all of the export, at 2.54 million tonnes, was in the form of alloy bar. Export to Singapore registered the highest volume of 1.4 million tonnes in the said period.
China’s export of wire rod to the region rose by 59% y-o-y to 3.3 million tonnes in the first 11 months of 2013, the bulk of which were declared as alloy wire rod. Export to Thailand saw the highest volume of 900,000 tonnes, an increase of 42% y-o-y.
China’s export of wire rod to Vietnam, at 640,000 tonnes, was an increase of 88% y-o-y. Export to Indonesia registered 518,000 tonnes which was an increase of 65% y-o-y. Export to Philippines was 490,000 tonnes and to Malaysia, 400,000 tonnes. Export to Singapore registered the lowest volume in the region, at 280,000 tonnes.
