China’s crude steel profits down

This is compared to 8.5-percent growth recorded during the same period last year,data with the National Development and Research Commission said.

Apart from output,the sector’s profits also slipped sharply. Steel producers saw profits decline by 49.5 percent in the first four months to 39.5 billion yuan as compared to the same period last year.

China’s manufacturing sector has been hard hit after the country introduced measures to cool its property market,a major steel user,even as exports slumped amid a lingering eurozone crisis,Xinhua reported.