Major steel producers churned out a total of 20.79 million tonnes of crude steel in late July, the data showed.

China's State Administration for Market Regulation has conducted investigations on activities of bidding up coal prices, the administration said Friday.

According to the administration, China saw 190 mining accidents in the January-July period, down 14 percent year on year.

Hasan said that the exported steel would be used to establish a hospital in New Zealand.

Rio Tinto is not concerned about China's plans to centralise iron-ore purchases and has strong ties with its customers, the Australia CEO for the global miner said on Friday.

Many European countries have recently announced the reopening of coal power plants as gas supplies from Russia have slumped amid European Union sanctions.

The Mehrum power plant in Germany is back in operation due to the current gas supply crisis.

These measures have raised concerns that the EU might scale back its climate ambitions.