China's difficulties this year clearly exceeded market expectations. Against the backdrop of the continued decline in real estate, government-led infrastructure has only partly offset the decline in steel demand for construction. Beijing's "steadiness" undermined market confidence as stimulus was delayed, but the release of a concerted set of supportive measures …

On 22 August, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a notice to suspend the approval of any new iron and steel production capacity replacement projects. The move has thrown uncertainty on a key policy determining steel investment in the country. It is not the first time Beijing …

China concluded the four-day Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on 18 July. The Third Plenum of the 11th Central Committee implemented the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, which connected the country with the world again after the Mao era and …

Chinese steel demand in 2024 has disappointed, even from the fairly bleak predictions made at the end of 2023. Construction steel demand has continued to decline with little sign yet of stabilising. As a result, our mid-term forecasts for annual demand are now lower.

Our crude steel forecast revision has …