In 2007, the amount of European Union imports of stainless steel flat products during January to February was eight times bigger than the same period in 2006. This figures are provided by the Iron & Steel Statistics Bureau (ISSB).

The imports from Asia in the first two months were amounted to 135,006 tons, when it were 17,172 tons in the same period of 2006.

China did play a major role in the changes, as China's exports to EU27 up to 65,356 tons in 2007. Imports from Taiwan were some 36,419 tons.

And the exports from EU27 to Asia declined by 41 percent to 20,620 tons in 2007.