China's steel sector saw output expansion in the first quarter of the year, industrial data showed.
In the January-March period, steel output rose 6.1 percent year on year to 359 million tonnes, according to the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA).
The output of crude steel registered a year-on-year increase of 0.6 percent to 259 million tonnes in the first quarter, the data showed.
The CISA data also showed that pig iron rose 0.8 percent from a year earlier to 216 million tonnes during the period.
The association noted that in the first quarter, the production and operations of China's steel industry remained generally stable, with improved profits year on year - laying a solid foundation for steady growth throughout the year.
"At present, China's iron and steel industry is at a critical stage of transformation and upgrading, a crucial phase of green and low-carbon development, and a key period for reshaping the international competitive landscape. We must respond to external uncertainties with the certainty of economic growth and high-quality development, and work to ensure the stable operation of the industry," said Jiang Wei, secretary-general of the China Iron and Steel Industry Association.
China's steel output rises 6.1 pct in Q1
