ABSTRACT
China produced about 100 million tonnes of crude steel in 1996. This chapter focuses on iron and steel production. It provides some perspectives on steel production. China’s industrial policy favoured the development of heavy industry. Iron and steel production and growth were boosted especially by the rapid economic growth that followed the economic reforms. These reforms have brought about great changes in China’s iron and steel industry as in the rest of the economy. China’s steel production has been growing steadily ever since the communists took power in 1949. Forecasting China’s steel production capacity is always of interest because it can help gain insights into the perspectives on trade. For China, appraisals of its future steel requirements are useful not only for investment planning but also for policy formation such as strategic stockpile objectives and industrial development programs.
