China's crude steel output rose 13.58 million tonnes, or 8.69 percent, over the same period last year to 169.91 million tonnes in the first quarter of this year, the China Iron & Steel Association (CISA) said Friday.

In its update report of the steel industry, CISA projected China's steel consumption growth will slow over the next five years ending 2015, with an average annual growth rate between 2.6 percent to 4.6 percent.