The figure dropped by 1.4 percentage points from the previous quarter, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Thanks to the digitization of the coal industry, miners no longer need to enter the deep mineshafts via walking or riding an outdated small train.

China's raw coal output posted stable expansion in March, official data showed.

Renewable energy use, low season, curbs on inflows, green drive factors.

All these factors will support a surge in steel consumption in the third and fourth quarters of this year, the VSA added.

"We expect more cooperation with China in the years to come to facilitate its accelerated energy transition, continued economic development and improvement in living standards."

Thanks to the digitalization of the coal industry, miners no longer need to enter the deep mineshafts via walking or riding on a small, outdated train.

The institute has developed the 0.08mm ultra-thin grain-oriented silicon steel strip and iron core in collaboration with several other companies and institutes including China Iron & Steel Research Institute Group.