Chinese Steel Hits the Great Wall Part II: More Evidence of Slower Future Growth: Facts and Figures for 2008-2017

WSD's seventh edition of an ongoing series of "Chinese Facts and Figures" reports -- Chinese Steel Hits the Great Wall Part II: More Evidence of Slower Future Growth: Facts and Figures for 2008-2017 (Core Report N) -- is an ongoing resource for those who must stay on top of developments in the Chinese steel industry. The report is recalibrated and expanded on a continuous basis.

This report represents another major research effort of Liu Jinghai, WSD's Director of Chinese Research. Mr. Liu was previously the Director of the Chinese Metallurgical Research Institute. He has been studying the Chinese steel industry since 1984 and is also an honorary professor of the Chinese Iron & Steel Association.

About a decade ago, the Chinese steel industry, to a fair extent, was an informational “black box.” Information about the industry tended to be incomplete and even wrong at times. Although still sketchy in some instances, such as regarding iron ore and coking coal production by mine size, information about the Chinese steel industry has been steadily improving.

The Chinese steel demand outlook, its structure and response to new conditions is one of the major “wild cards” in the global steel industry outlook for the next five years.  Given that, in 2009, it produced 47% of the world’s crude steel and 60% of the world’s pig iron, China’s impact on the global steel marketplace cannot be underestimated.

WSD has designated five Chinese steel companies as “World-Class Steelmakers” – BaoSteel, Shagang, Anshan, Wuhan and Maanshan. On a global basis, we have identified 30 other steel companies as World-Class Steelmakers. When aggregated, our 35 World-Class Steelmakers account for about 48% of total steel product deliveries. Such companies, we believe, are positioned to be “winners” in the decade ahead. In fact, in the current competitive environment in the steel industry, many of the World-Class Steelmakers are likely to grow far stronger in terms of their competitive strengths in the next few years.

WSD is dedicated to publishing timely, insightful and forward-thinking reports on the Chinese steel industry. We receive feedback almost daily from our contacts in the country. Our 356-page Core Report sells for $4,000 to non-subscribers. Or, it's included in WSD's annual service at $12,500.