The latest customs data showed China exported 2.47 million tons of steel products in September, up 390,000 tons from August and down 62.9 percent year-on-year, bringing the total steel exports in the first nine months to 15.71 million tons, down 67.6 percent.

       In September China imported 1.91 million tons of steel, up 320,000 tons from the previous month and 50.4 percent from a year earlier; imported 280,000 tons of billet, down 70,000 tons from August; and a monthly record 64.55 million tons of iron ore, up 64.67 percent. In the first nine months, the country imported 13.38 million tons of steel, up 8.6 percent; and 469.36 million tons of iron ore, up 35.7 percent. In September it exported 40,000 tons of coke, down 97.08 percent, bringing the 9-months total to 360,000 tons, down 96.7 percent.