<p> The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for the Chinese steel sector rebounded slightly to 44.1 in December last year, up 0.8 percentage points from November, showed data from the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) on January 1. </p> <p> It was however the eighth consecutive month below the 50-point threshold separating growth from contraction, reflecting persisting sluggishness in China’s domestic steel market. </p> <p> The output sub-index increased 5.0 percentage points from November to 43.6 in December, reversing a consecutive three-month decline, said the CFLP. </p> <p> Daily crude steel output of key steel producers edged up 1.88% from ten days ago to 1.782 million tonnes in mid-December, an increment of 8.51% from the month-ago level, said the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA). </p> <p> However, the purchase sub-index dropped 4.7 percentage points from November to 41.5 last month, hitting a nine-month low. </p> <p> In December, new export order sub-index stayed unchanged from November at 40.2, the sixth consecutive months below the 50-point threshold, indicating persistent weak demand from downstream sectors. </p> <p> Customs data showed China exported 83.61 million tonnes of steel products over January-November last year, surging 46.8% year on year, with the November exports at 9.72 million tonnes, increasing 13.68% on month and roaring 94.4% on year. </p> <p> As of December 20, steel products stocks of the CISA members stood at 14.88 million tonnes, up 1.18% from December 10 and up 7.67% from a year ago, said the CISA. </p> <p align="center"> <img alt="" src="/upfiles/news/image/20150105/20150105144528_0807.jpg" /> </p> <p> &nbsp; </p>