China's Steel Production on Upswing

BEIJING, August 9 (Xinhua) -- The first five months of this year witnessed a steady growth of China's steel production with the output growing a year-on-year 6.7 percent to reach 49.2 million tons, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The output of steel products between January and May hit 47.5 million tons, surging 15.5 percent on an annual basis, the bureau said.

In the meantime, production of pig iron grew by 5.3 percent over the same period last year to reach 49.9 million tons.

The period also saw a year-on-year increase of 8.7 percent in the output of non-ferrous metals, which chalked up 2.6 million tons.

During the January-May period, the output of aluminum oxide hit 1.55 million tons, up 16 percent on an annual basis, and that of aluminum products hit 573,900 tons, surging 17 percent.

The production of copper products increased by 16 percent over the same period last year to reach 487,100 tons.