Chinese welded steel pipe exports declined 12% in May '14, says Customs data

BEIJING (Scrap Monster): According to data released by Chinese customs officials, the country’s exports of welded steel pipes declined sharply in May ’14 year-on-year. However, when compared with the previous month, the exports were flat during the month.

The Chinese welded steel pipe exports during May this year totaled 342,114 tons. The exports dropped by 12% over the year. The country’s welded pipe exports had totaled 388,766 tons during May ’13.

The cumulative exports during the initial five months of the year totaled 1.49 million tons, down nearly 8% when compared with the corresponding five-month period last year. The country’s exports during the period from January to May in 2013 had totaled 1.62 million tons. The largest importer of Chinese welded steel pipe during the five-month period was Canada. The imports by Canada totaled 641,000 tons, accounting for 43% of the total exports by China.

Meanwhile, the Chinese output of welded steel pipes totaled 4.93 million tons during the month of May ’14. The monthly output rose 12% upon comparison with the output during the same month a year ago. Also, the country’s daily output of welded steel pipes averaged at 159,039 tons during the month of May ’14.