The measures will go into effect on June 1, the ministry said.

The change in the environment has also improved the quality of local people's lives.

In 2020, crude steel output rose by 5.2 percent year on year to exceed 1.05 billion tonnes, according to the China Iron and Steel Association.

Export tariffs on ferrosilicon, ferrochrome, high-purity pig iron would be raised to 25 percent, 20 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below reflects contraction.

The PMI for China's non-manufacturing sector moderated to 54.9, down 1.4 percentage points from March.

China should guard against the rise in international iron ore prices, as it has the potential to erode its hard-won economic recovery.

According to Luo, under the current pricing mechanism, iron ore prices are to a large extent determined by the producers rather than market forces.