OREANDA-NEWS. August 13, 2012. Industry insiders strongly predicated China crude steel output this year to slip for the first time in 31 years driven by softening demand and reduced production rates across the country.

In the first half of 2012, China steel output just increased by 1.8 percent to 357 million tons.

Production of 70-odd medium and large-sized steelmakers declined by 0.1 percent, and 33 of the 74 CISA members reported year-on-year output reductions. They will be very likely to make further production cuts in response to the even more difficult business climate in the latter half of the year.