More inputs into core tech

China produces more than 40 billion ballpoints annually, but nearly 90 percent of its ballpoint pen nibs and refills are imported.

However, such a situation is expected to change soon as Taiyuan Iron and Steel Co Ltd recently announced its successful production of such core components, whose volume production at home will mean the large number of ballpoint pens made in China will no longer depend on imports of these core components.

As a matter of fact, China made breakthroughs in the manufacturing of these components much earlier, but due to the lack of relevant materials and equipment, it has not produced them on a large scale.