China, Leading Steel Producing Country in the WorldSteel means "grain" to modern industry in modern times, being regarded as an important criterion for a country's actual strength. For a long time as of a century, the annual steel output in China has leapt to the first place in the world from the formerly 26th with the steel output exceeding 100 million tons, i.e. 15 times that of the gross-total of the old China 50 years ago.In 1890, Zhang Zhidong set up the Hanyang Iron Works, heralding the iron and steel industry in China. However, after that, China's steel industry had for a long time remained at a very low level with its total output failing to reach 7.8 million tons and the highest annual output hitting only 923,000 tons in1943. In 1949, China could only produce 158,000 tons of steel with per capita output of less than 300 grams, not enough for making a kitchen-knife. At that time, even a thing small as a thumbtack had to be imported from other countries. After the founding of new China, its steel output witnessed an increase fast as by 15 percent annually. Towards the end of the "Sixth Five Year Plan" period, China's steel output reached 46 million tons. And still later in 1989, China saw its steel output jump up to 60 million tons, and 1992 resulted in 80 million tons and 90 million tons in 1994, while 1996 scored a record of 100 million tons. China's steel industry has not only met the needs of economic demands, but also a sufficient need for industry of national defense which includes the needs for making atomic bombs, nuclear-powered submarines, rockets, communication satellites and other cutting-edge technologies. For over half a century, China has set up many steel and iron syndicates, among which, the steel output of the Baoshan Iron & Steel Group in Shanghai exceeded 10 million tons annually and the Capital and Anshan Steel works surpassed eight million. By PD Online staff member Li Yan |
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