The World Steel Association has released its short-term steel demand forecast for 2019 and 2020. According to the forecast, China's steel demand will grow by 7.8% in 2019, reaching 9.001 billion tons, while steel demand in the rest of the world is expected to grow by 0.2%, reaching 8.749 billion tons. In 2020, China's steel demand is projected to grow by 1.0%, and steel demand in the rest of the world is expected to grow by 2.5%, driven by a 4.1% increase in steel demand from emerging and developing economies (excluding China). Global steel demand will grow by 3.9% in 2019, reaching 17.750 billion tons, and is expected to grow by another 1.7% in 2020, reaching 18.057 billion tons.