May 7 (Xinhua) -- China's metallurgical industry will focus its readjustment of product mix on developing and producing more quality steel products, a senior official said here today. Pu Haiqing, director of the State Administration of Metallurgical Industry, said at the Congress "Steel 2000", that most steel products China imports are of a high quality, such as stainless and rolled sheet.

China is the world's largest steel producer with steel output exceeding 100 million tons in the past four years. However, the country still has to import some seven million tons of steel products for special use.

The industrialization process in China, is placing huge demand on the steel industry and higher quality and better services, Pu said.

Sectors including automobiles, machinery products, household appliances, petroleum and communications all needs high quality steel products for upgrading, he added

China is now aiming to sharpen the competitive edge of its major steel producers by upgrading technology and merging its enterprises.