Key raw material imports soar
(CCTV.com)
Updated: 2005-08-12 10:37

New released figures show China's imports of key raw materials soared during the first seven months of this year, according to China's General Administration of Customs.

During the January to July period, China imported 150 million tons of iron ore. That's a growth of nearly 32 percent.

The Ministry of Commerce has predicted that the country's full-year iron ore imports are expected to slow down this year, as steel production growth decelerates as a result of the central government's macro economic control policies.

Iron ore imports jumped by over 40 percent last year. During the first 7 months, China's coal imports more than doubled in comparison with the same period of last year, while crude oil went up by only 5.5 percent.