China imported 2.07 million tonnes of steel products over January-April, falling 13.9% year on year (YoY), showed the latest data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on May 9.

The import value reached $3.45 billion during the first four months, down 13.6% YoY. The average import price was calculated at $1,665.8/t, up 0.3% YoY.

In April alone, imports of steel products rose 4.2% MoM but declined 20.7% YoY to 522,000 tonnes, with value at $880 million, rising 3.7% MoM but falling 21.5% YoY. The average import price was $1,690/t, edging down 0.5% MoM and 1% YoY.

Meanwhile, China imported 390 million tonnes of iron ore and concentrates from January to April, down 5.5% YoY, showed data from the GAC. Import amounts were $38.42 billion, falling 23.1% YoY, with the average import price at $98.9/t, falling 18.6% YoY.

Last month, iron ore and concentrates imports totaled 100 million tonnes, posing a year-on-year and month-on-month rise of 1.3% and 9.8%, respectively. The value came in at $10.12 billion, rising 9.3% MoM but down 12.2% YoY, and the import price averaged at $98.1/t, down 0.4% MoM and 13.3% YoY.