In order to prevent exports from further sliding, the CISA called on to improve external environment for steel exports on May 22, which has drawn attention from the MIIT. The measures may include a flexible export duty for steel, further adjustment of export rebate rates, a fair tax burden, regulation on import and export orders, and reinforced efforts in monitoring imports and anti-dumping actions.

In the first four months, China's exports of steel slumped 59.7 percent while imports spiked 9.9 percent. The price gap between average export price and import price has declined to 12.15 percent in the first quarter from 27.41 percent last year, indicating an almost lost of household materials to overseas ones in terms of price edge.