China exported 7.99 million tons of steel products in the first half of this year, down 68 percent year-on-year, with its ranking on the world’s largest steel exporters dropping from the first place last year to the No 7. Exports to Europe decreased by 81 percent, those to Asia by 75 percent, those to the Middle East by 68 percent and those to the United States, Canada and Mexico by 51 percent. China imported 10.7 million tons of steel in the first six months, up 30 percent , thus resulting in a net import of 2.71 million tons.