China Reports Decrease in Iron/Steel Imports and Exports


The world’s largest iron ore exporter recently divulged that prices will be decreasing due to China’s control on steel exports.  Brazil is the major exporter of low-cost steel products, and demand in China for imported steel and Iron Ore exports is tapering off.  The decrease in local Chinese steel production is also said to have driven down iron ore imports as well.  The main drivers of these decreasing imports is the slowing of construction activity in china and decreasing investments in infrastructure. 
                  Globally, the steel and iron ore industries will be on the decline, according to early projections and forecasts.  This directly relates to political factors as discussed in Chapter 8 of the textbooks.  Chinese governments have slowed down in infrastructure investments.  Considering China’s economy right now is more stagnant than it has been in the past few years, the government and political factors could have major influence on steel imports and exports.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-08/world-s-top-iron-shipper-says-china-s-import-boom-will-level-off

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