CHINA'S auto makers will consume 12.55 million tons of rolled steel this year, Shi Jianhua, deputy head of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said yesterday.

That includes 9.41 million tons of steel plates and 3.14 million tons of construction steel. Annual demand will rise to 27.67 million tons by 2010, including 20.75 million tons of steel plate and 6.92 million tons of construction steel, Shi said. Domestic output still failed to meet demand.