Demand for Steel, Iron Ore to Grow Little Next Year, Institute Says

(Beijing) – China's demand for steel and iron ore will increase only slightly next year due to a real estate slowdown and less investment in infrastructure construction, a report from a government consulting group says.

The country will need 720 million tons of refined steel products next year, 1.41 percent more than this year, the report published on December 3 by China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute said. Some 834 million tons of crude steel will be needed, up 1.71 percent.