China has had a difficult summer, but for much of this period steel markets held out some hope of a better autumn. After all, stimulus funds were being made available and the government was saying there should be no panic. As August stumbled from crisis to crisis however, hopes for …

China’s Politburo meeting at the end of July has set the tone for economic policy in the second half of the year. It ruled out stronger large-scale stimulus, although some policy support will be necessary just to keep the economy ticking over. Hopes of another boom, like that seen after …

Steel mills expectations towards a recovery in steel demand in China were high coming into June, with hopes that the easing of covid lockdowns in many areas of the country would enable pent-up demand to come rushing back, leading to a destocking of steel inventory and supporting higher steel prices. …

Covid has not ripped through China, but lockdowns have ripped apart its economy. The most productive areas of the country have been hit by lockdowns and other regions cannot get the goods they need to operate normally either. Chinaʼs top leaders have vowed to stick to dynamic zero Covid policies, …