China exported 40,000 mt of ferroalloys in March, down 50% from a year ago, according to data published by the General Administration of Customs late Wednesday.

The March figure, however, was double the volume of exports in February.

China's March ferroalloy exports were valued at $90.1 million, down 39.4% year on year but up 78.1% from February.

Over January-March, the country's ferroalloy exports totaled 100,000 mt, down 54.6% from the same period in 2012. The value was of the shipments were $226 million, down 44.2% year on year.

The report did not provide a breakdown of the export volumes of the various ferroalloys. But some of China's commonly exported ferroalloys include ferrosilicon, silicomanganese, ferrochrome, ferromolybdenum and ferrotungsten. Ferroalloys are used in the production of steel and other metal alloys.