SHANGHAI — Chinese exports of stainless flat products dropped in January, falling 6.3 percent month on month to 146,206 tonnes from 156,035 tonnes in December, according to Chinese customs data.

However, this was almost double the two-year low seen in January 2012, when the country exported just 79,070 tonnes.

Taiwan remained China’s largest destination for stainless flat products, at 49,509 tonnes, down 14.9 percent month on month.

Stainless flat product shipments to South Korea rose 21.3 percent to 29,096 tonnes from 23,989 tonnes in December.

China’s exports to India also rose in January to 7,569 tonnes, up 19.3 percent month on month. However, volumes to India could soon shrink after its government in January imposed a "safeguard duty" of 20 percent on 304-grade hot-rolled flat stainless steel products from China.