China’s fastener exports declined 2.4% to 2,094,346 tons in the first half of 2019, Fastener World reports.

The average export price per ton increased 2.34% to US$1.91 during the period.

“Until 2018, China’s fastener export had demonstrated an increase in volume for 3 consecutive years and had been demonstrated an increase in price for 2 consecutive years; however, in the first half of 2019, China’s fastener export already showed a decline in its export volume,” Fastener World reports.

In January, China’s fastener exports totaled 417,918 tons (the highest volume in a single month of the year), according to Fastener World. That volume shrank to 218,447 tons in February. Beginning in March, the volume achieved a three-month gain reaching 410,235 tons in May. But in June, the volume dropped again to 370,156 tons.

“It is estimated that China will suffer a difficult time in increasing its fastener export again in 2019,” according to Fastener World.