China Steel Exports Hit Highest Since 2016 on Weak Local Demand

China’s steel exports posted the strongest month since 2016, in a surge that will likely offer more fodder for complaints about Beijing’s industrial policies.

Overseas shipments in March reached 9.9 million tons, about 25% higher than a year earlier and capping a very strong quarter, according to government data. China’s prolonged property crisis has pummeled demand for steel at home, spurring traders to sell in more lucrative markets.