According to Mr Mu Youding minister of MITI, total import of steel products into Malaysia for January to September period amounts to MYR 21.93 billion or USD 6.27 billion a jump of 16.7% from MYR 18.8 billion in 2007.

He said that among others, the value for Japanese origin steel products is MYR 4.81 billion, Chinese origin ones at MYR 3.01 billion and South Korean resources at MYR 2.17 billion. Thus, China becomes Malaysia"s second biggest supplier.