China's total crude steel output is likely to increase to 800 million tonnes in 2014 but growth will slow to 2 to 3% on the year, the head of its steel association said, with the government trying to tackle over capacity.

Mr Zhang Changfu secretary general of the China Iron and Steel Association, said total crude steel output was likely to end this year at 782 million tonnes, up 9% from 2012, according to a report by the official Xinhua news agency.

Total output over the first 11 months of the year hit 712.8 million tonnes, up 7.8% on the year, China's iron ore imports rose 10.9% over the same period to reach 746.1 million tonnes.