[ferro-alloys.com]China's steel demand will remain flat on year at 781 million mt in 2019 as the nation's economy undergoes "rebalancing" and environmental regulations become more stringent, the World Steel Association said a forecast Tuesday.

This compares with its full-year growth forecast of 6% for 2018.

Asian steel demand will grow 1.3% next year to 1.132 billion mt after growth of 5% in 2018, the association said at a media briefing at its general assembly in Tokyo.

Among the 10 biggest steel consuming countries, India is expected to see the largest growth in demand, with on-year growth of 7.5% in 2018 and 7.3% in 2019 to an estimated 102.3 million mt in 2019, it added.

• [Editor:王可]