China to Be Net Steel Exporter_经济Business

　china, the world’s top steel producer, might become a net exporter of steel products as early as this year because production was outpacing demand, the london-based iron and steel statistics bureau said.

　　china, which became the world’s top steel importer only in 2002, emerged as the no. 5 exporter of steel last year. it still imported some products, but its net import position halved to about 15 million tons from 30 million tons in 2003.

　　“there is a possibility of china changing from being a ... net steel importer to a net steel exporter” on a full-year basis, said steve mackrell, director of the bureau.

　　“i think it is going to happen sometime,” he told a conference organized by the china iron and steel association. “and it could be as early as this year.”

　　mackrell said on a monthly basis china had been a net exporter of steel between september and december.

　　chinese industry officials said the government was looking into scrapping tax rebates for steel exports to discourage overseas shipments of the energy-intensive products.