According to statistics from the Stainless Steel Branch of China Special Steel Enterprises Association, the production of crude stainless steel in China amounted to around 8.17 million tons in the first quarter of this year, growing by 36.38% compared to the same period a year ago.

Among them, the output of Cr-Ni stainless steel (300 series) had a year-on-year increase of nearly 14% to around 3.46 million tons, accounting for 42.04% of the total; that of Cr stainless steel (400 series) had a year-on-year increase of 29.5% to around 1.81 million tons, accounting for 22.14%; that of Cr-Mn stainless steel (200 series) had a year-on-year hike of 40.6% to around 2.84 million tons, accounting for 34.81%; that of duplex stainless steel had a year-on-year growth of 18.9% to roughly 53,700 tons.

Meanwhile, China’s stainless steel imports went up by 157.7% year on year to around 543,000 tons, and the exports hiked by 7.5% year on year to roughly 871,000 tons.

During the period, China's apparent consumption of stainless steel reached approximately 7.06 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 46.5%.