The Iron & Steel Statistics Bureau (ISSB) has reported that the EU has increased its imports of stainless steel products in January to November of 2006 by 46% compared with the same period of 2005, from 625,885tns to 913,893tns. Of these imports, the biggest increase occurred in China, its exports to the EU upped by almost 7 fold, from 21,081tns to 145,820tns during the same period of 2005 and 2006. South Africa remained the largest exporter to the EU, delivering 199,218tns in 2006 compared with 173,897tns of 2005. Flat productions occupied 63% for total SS imports in the EU.
