BEIJING, June 4 (Reuters) - Global grains and metals

trader Cargill has decided to stop physical steel trading within

China, it said on Tuesday.

The decision follows a softening of demand in the world's

top producer and consumer of the metal, hit by a slowdown in its

property sector.

"Following an in-depth study of the market and the business

model, Cargill decided to optimise its steel business in China

and cease physical steel trading in the Chinese domestic

market," the company's head of China metals trading, Oliver

Handasyde Dick, said in a notice.

"The decision will not change Cargill's commitment to the

Chinese market, nor will it have any impact on the execution of

the existing contracts."