In the first quarter, China's economymaintained an overall balance, and the development trend of stability andprogress provided a good market environment for the development of the steelindustry. The steel industry also showed a relatively stable operatingsituation and increased production. According to data released by the ChinaIron and Steel Association in the first quarter of 2019, the steel productioncontinued to grow in the first quarter. The country produced 195 million tonsof iron, up 9.29% year-on-year, and produced 231 million tons of crude steel,up 9.92% year-on-year. Steel 269 million tons, an increase of 10.82%.