The growth rate of steel consumption is expected to reach 4 per cent by the end of this year, says the Vietnam Steel Association.
The prediction is based on the fact that steel consumption in 2011 fell by 10 per cent compared to the previous year, due to a series of difficulties.
Slow consumption in 2011 made businesses cut production to avoid overstock. By December 2011, steel output reached 6.44 million tonnes, down 1.5 per cent against the same period the previous year.
Besides, Vietnam’s two main steel importers, Japan and China, decreased steel consumption.