China is increasing its hold upon the worldwide metal industry as their metal industry body has announced their intention to appoint as the chairman of the company one of the top steelmakers in the country in an effort to boost their reputation as a steel leader.

Zhang Xiaogang, president of the state-owned Anshan Iron and Steel, is to become the chairman of the company for a year after the conclusion of the World Steel Association’s annual meeting in Paris.

Zhang, a 57 year old engineer with many years of experience, has been lined up for the position for some time and he will occupy the post part time for most of 2012.

Recent figures have shown that China accounted for around 20% of the worldwide output of manufactured goods, which is a massive 13% increase on the figure from the turn of the millennium.

This has turned the country into the world’s leading manufacturer, taking the mantle from the US for the first time in over 100 years.