According to the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), in the January-August period this year the overall sales revenues of China's 88 large and medium-size steelmakers - all CISA members - totaled RMB 2.4142 trillion ($393.19 billion), while they achieved an aggregate net profit of RMB 15.932 billion ($2.59 billion), with a net profit ratio of 0.65 percent, up 0.11 percentage points compared to the January-July period this year.

In particular, the 88 large and medium-size steelmakers achieved a total net profit of RMB 4.604 billion ($0.75 billion) in August of the current year, up RMB 854 million ($139.09 million) or 22.77 percent month on month, with a net profit ratio of 1.52 percent. In August, 14 of the steelmakers in question recorded losses in the given month, with their combined losses amounting to RMB 927 million ($150.98 million).