BEIJING — Chinese demand for imported iron ore is expected to increase 3.5 percent to 770 million tonnes in 2013, China Iron and Steel Association (Cisa) deputy secretary-general Li Xinchuang said.

Iron ore demand in general is expected to rise 5.7 percent to 1.11 billion tonnes this year, he said Feb. 27 at the China Iron Ore conference sponsored by AMM sister publication Metal Bulletin. China imported 744 million tonnes of iron ore in 2012, up 8.4 percent from the previous year.

Taking into consideration stockpiles at ports, imported iron ore accounted for 72 percent of China’s total consumption last year, Li said.

Cisa expects crude steel output to total 746 million tonnes this year, up 4 percent from 717 million tonnes in 2012. The country’s steel capacity is now around 970 million tonnes, Li said.

A version of this article was first published by AMM sister publication Metal Bulletin.