On October 27, the Stainless Steel Branch of the China Iron and Steel Association released statistical data on China's stainless steel production, imports, exports, and apparent consumption for the first nine months of this year.

　　Specifically, from January to September, China's crude stainless steel output reached 30.4618 million tons, an increase of 1.3869 million tons or 4.77% year-on-year. Among this, Cr-Ni stainless steel production amounted to 15.6209 million tons, up by 921,600 tons or 6.27% year-on-year, with its share rising by 0.72 percentage points to 51.28%. Cr-Mn stainless steel production reached 8.9099 million tons, up 385,900 tons or 4.53% year-on-year, with its share declining by 0.07 percentage points to 29.25%; Cr stainless steel production totaled 5.5827 million tons, increasing by 34,700 tons or 0.62% year-on-year, with its share decreasing by 0.76 percentage points to 18.33%; Duplex stainless steel production reached 348,329 tons, up 44,698 tons or 14.72% year-on-year, with its market share increasing to 1.14%.

       In terms of import and export volumes, from January to September, China's total stainless steel imports decreased by 21.35% year-on-year to 1.138 million tons, while total exports increased by 1.64% year-on-year to 3.7827 million tons.

　　Regarding apparent consumption, China's apparent consumption of stainless steel reached 24.9123 million tons from January to September, an increase of 905,900 tons or 3.77% year-on-year.