Made by Panzhihua Iron and Steel in Sichuan province, the rails measure 100 meters in length each, and were transported to Fangchenggang port.

The first batch of steel rails made in China for use on Indonesia's Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway was shipped on Saturday from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The steel does not have to be painted, which saves maintenance costs.

China's steel industry should adhere to the dual-circulation development pattern and accelerate the establishment of a stable and efficient supply system for raw materials, industry experts said.

The joint research center has already delivered great insights into the outlook of Rio Tinto's largest market.

China's steel sector registered output expansion in the first 10 months of this year, industrial data showed.

"Not a good sign, but at least the worst is over and we're heading for a recovery."

US coking coal prices strengthened further early last week, buoyed by supply tightness across segments and strong demand from Chinese mills for low-volatile coals stretching into March next year.