Steel Demand Limited This Year: Moody's

　　Chinesedemand for steel will be limited in the next 12 months by the slowing domesticeconomy and weakness in the real estate market, according to a Moody's reportreleased on Wednesday.

　　The situation will pressurize steelmakers in China and throughout Asia as thecountry accounts for about 70 percent of the region's steel demand, the reportsaid.

　　Despite the sluggish demand, Moody's forecast that Chinese steel companies willkeep 2015 production close to 2014 levels and boost exports, given the pricepremiums outside of China.

　　The rise in exports will increase downward pressure on steel prices regionallyand to a lesser extent globally, the report said.

　　Moody's also pointed to growing threats to the stable outlook of the Asiansteel industry. Moody's has classed its outlook as stable since August 2014,when the agency changed it from negative.

　　(Source: Xinhua)