Rio, 12/4/2003 (Agência Brasil – ABr) - China has become a big buyer of steel made in the state of Rio de Janeiro. From January to October of this year, sales have reached US$93.6 million, which works out to over 63% of the state's steel exports.

Compared to the same period last year, Rio steel exports to China are up over 462%, and the Chinese market has become the fifth biggest market for those exports. (AB)