1. The association discloses stainless steel data for the first three quarters of 2022
On November 1, 2022, the Stainless Steel Branch of the China Special Steel Enterprises Association announced the following statistical data on China’s crude stainless steel production, import and export, and apparent consumption from January to September 2022:
1. China’s crude stainless steel output from January to September
In the first three quarters of 2022, the national output of stainless steel crude steel was 23.6346 million tons, a decrease of 1.3019 million tons or 5.22% compared with the same period in 2021. Among them, the output of Cr-Ni stainless steel was 11.9667 million tons, a decrease of 240,600 tons or 1.97%, and its share increased by 1.68 percentage points year-on-year to 50.63%; the output of Cr-Mn stainless steel was 7.1616 million tons, a decrease of 537,500 tons. It decreased by 6.98%, and its share decreased by 0.57 percentage points to 30.30%; the output of Cr series stainless steel was 4.2578 million tons, a decrease of 591,700 tons, a decrease of 12.20%, and its share decreased by 1.43 percentage points to 18.01%; Phase stainless steel was 248,485 tons, a year-on-year increase of 67,865 tons, an increase of 37.57%, and its share rose to 1.05%.
2. China’s stainless steel import and export data from January to September
From January to September 2022, 2.4456 million tons of stainless steel (excluding waste and scrap) will be imported, an increase of 288,800 tons or 13.39% year-on-year. Among them, 1.2306 million tons of stainless steel billets were imported, an increase of 219,600 tons or 21.73% year-on-year. From January to September 2022, China imported 2.0663 million tons of stainless steel from Indonesia, a year-on-year increase of 444,000 tons or 27.37%. From January to September 2022, the export of stainless steel was 3.4641 million tons, an increase of 158,200 tons or 4.79% year-on-year.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, due to factors such as stainless steel traders and downstream replenishment, domestic “Double 11″ and “Double 12″ online shopping festivals, overseas Christmas and other factors, the apparent consumption and production of stainless steel in China in the fourth quarter will increase compared with the third quarter, but in 2022 It is still difficult to avoid negative growth in stainless steel production and sales in 2019.
It is estimated that the apparent consumption of stainless steel in China will drop by 3.1% year-on-year to 25.3 million tons in 2022. Considering the large market fluctuations and high market risks in 2022, the inventory of most links in the industrial chain will decrease year-on-year, and the output will decrease by about 3.4% year-on-year. The drop was the first in 30 years.
The main reasons for the sharp decline are as follows: 1. China’s macroeconomic structure adjustment, China’s economy gradually shifted from a stage of high-speed growth to a stage of high-quality development, and the adjustment of China’s economic structure has slowed down the development speed of infrastructure and real estate industries, the main areas of stainless steel consumption. down. 2. The impact of the new crown epidemic on the global economy. In recent years, the trade barriers set up by some countries have affected the export of Chinese products. It is becoming more and more difficult to export Chinese products overseas. China’s expected vision of a liberalized global market has failed.
In 2023, there are many impact uncertainties with upside and downside potential. It is expected that the apparent consumption of stainless steel in China will increase by 2.0% month-on-month, and the output will increase by about 3% month-on-month. The adjustment of the global energy strategy has brought some new opportunities for stainless steel, and the Chinese stainless steel industry and enterprises are also actively looking for and developing similar new terminal markets.
Post time: Nov-17-2022