Chinese steel production to slow sharply in 2018

15 January 2018

China’s steel production growth is expected to slow sharply in 2018 as state-mandated factory closures and policies to protect the environment begin to bite.

The world’s largest producer of the metal will experience just a small rise in output of 0.6% this year, a poll of 15 analysts found in a Financial Times survey.

Steel is often viewed as a barometer of economic activity because it is used in carmaking, construction and manufacturing, which means a significant price move could have repercussions for the broader economy.

For the steelmakers, the Chinese slowdown could have positive effects.

A modest increase in production from China, which accounts for about half the 1.7bn tonnes churned out worldwide, could restore balance to a global market that was ravaged by a collapse in prices two years ago due to oversupply.

The anticipated slowdown comes despite a robust outlook for the Chinese economy and contrasts with a 5.7% jump in its crude steel output during the first 11 months of 2017, according to World Steel Association figures.

Even so, global annual production in 2018 is slated to increase 2.1%, according to an average of the analysts’ forecasts.

World output increased 5.4% between January and November 2017, compared with the same period a year before.

Rod Beddows, of HCF International Advisers, said: “The total market appears to be reverting to a more stable ‘normal’ with Chinese exports under control.”

Donald Trump’s pledge to renew US infrastructure, coupled with the impact of import restrictions against steel deemed unfairly traded, were cited as factors behind the average forecast of a 3.4% jump in the country’s steel production in 2018.

Alistair Ramsay, of the publication Metal Bulletin, said US producers had been winning customers back from external suppliers, partly due to a weak dollar.

“We suspect this pattern will continue in 2018, enabling local mills to benefit further from the recent revival in local steel usage following a two-year depression,” he said.

Steelmakers in the EU are expected to produce 2.4% more as the economic recovery in many countries across the bloc gains strength. Brussels has similarly slapped tariffs on material deemed to be unfairly traded.

China, in particular, has faced accusations of dumping excess steel illegally on international markets, although its outbound shipments have retreated over the past two years.

Under reforms of its bloated steel and coal sectors, Beijing has ordered the shutdown of the most inefficient and dirty mills. It has also imposed seasonal restrictions on a range of industries and large construction projects in a bid to reduce air pollution during winter.

Peter Archbold, senior director in the metals and mining team at Fitch, the rating agency, said: “We expect the capacity closures which have already taken place in China to continue to have a positive impact on steel markets globally in 2018.

“[These closures] have also lowered the volumes being exported, which has improved the market balance and domestic prices in other regional steel markets.”

Seth Rosenfeld, analyst at Jefferies, said Chinese steel demand was the “biggest uncertainty” for the wider industry in 2018.

Source: FINANCIAL TIMES