SEOUL: South Korea’s steel imports jumped 2.3 percent in last July compared to the same period last year, as shipments from neighboring China went up, based on reports. Additionally, steel inbound shipments increased to 1.96 million ton, as opposed to 1.92 million tons in 2015’s corresponding month, marking the first on-year gain in four months.
Moreover, China’s shipments to South Korea went up 21 percent to 1.35 million tons last month, while Japan’s shipments declined 17.9 percent on- year to 509 thousand tons. “Demand for steel bars shot up in July, and it’s likely that China may be trying to ship out its H-shaped structural steel beams ahead of looming punitive tariffs on the product in South Korea,” an official said.