China's crude steel output fell 2.1 percent in 2022 to 1.013 billion tonnes, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on 17 January, the second consecutive annual decline for the world's largest steelmaker. Output in December alone dropped 9.8 percent year on year to 77.89 million tonnes as mills cut production into the year end. The fall reflected a weak property market, where new home construction starts plunged 44.3 percent in December, and repeated Covid-19 disruptions through the year. Some mill sources expected Beijing to keep restraining steel output in 2023, which would lend support to prices, although demand was not expected to improve substantially. World crude steel production also fell in 2022, dropping to about 1.88 billion tonnes from 1.96 billion tonnes in 2021, according to the World Steel Association's preliminary tally.
Source: Hellenic Shipping News (S&P Global Platts) — https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/chinas-2022-crude-steel-output-falls-for-second-straight-year/
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