According to statistics from the Stainless Steel Branch of China Iron and Steel Association, China's crude stainless steel output in April remained flat month on month at around 3.52 million tons but rose by 1.28% year on year. While Cr-Ni and Cr-Mn series production had slight declines by 2.29% and 0.86% year on year, respectively, Cr series and duplex stainless steel output increased significantly by 6.5% and 23.5% year on year, respectively.

In the first four months of this year, China’s total stainless steel exports grew by 15%, imports decreased by 26%, and net exports surged by 65.7% year on year.

In April alone, imports dropped by 26.8% year on year to 142,000 tons, with Indonesia's share also decreasing by 1.8% to 116,000 tons. Exports, however, rose by 14% year on year to 448,000 tons. Apparent consumption for April was 2.88 million tons.