World Steel Association: Global steel demand is expected to increase by 3.9% year-on-year in 2018

The reporter learned from the official website of the WorldIron and Steel Association (WSA) that the worldsteel released the steelindustry outlook on October 16. It is estimated that global steel demand willreach 1.658 billion tons in 2018, an increase of 3.9% year-on-year. It isexpected that global steel demand will reach 16.81 in 2019. 100 million tons,an increase of 1.4% year-on-year; China's steel demand in 2018 is expected toincrease by 6% to 718 million tons, and will stabilize at 718 million tons in2019.

AlRemeithi, chairman of the World Steel Association's Economic Committee, commented that global steel demand in 2018 continues to show the resilience of the recovery of investment activity in emerging economies and the improvement in performance of emerging economies. However, the association also pointed out that rising trade tensions and unstable currency movements are increasing the uncertainty of future demand.

The continued trade friction with the United States and theglobal economic slowdown also pose downside risks to the Chinese economy. Theworldsteel said that increasingly stringent environmental protectionregulations will also lead to a slowdown in Chinese steel demand at the end of2018 and 2019, but if the Chinese government decides Taking economic stimulusmeasures to curb downside risks, China's steel demand will be boosted in 2019.