Rolled steel exports ebbed in the first four months of this year, reflecting China's efforts to cut exports of the smokestack industries and the increasing anti-dumping actions against Chinese products abroad.

The General Administration of Customs said on Tuesday that between January and April, China exported 16.17 million tons of rolled steel, down 23.9 percent year-on-year. The exports were valued at 14.36 billion U.S. dollars, up 4.1 percent year-on-year.

In April, exports were 4.78 million tons, valued at nearly 4.44billion U.S. dollars.

State-owned enterprises accounted for 56.5 percent of rolled steel exports during the first four months.

Sales to the Republic of Korea, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the United States accounted for 68.6 percent of exports.

However, exports to the United States and European Union dropped 46.4 percent and 27.3 percent, respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2008)