Chinese key steel mills produced 2.02 million tonnes of crude steel averagely each day during December 1-10, down 3.2% compared to the previous ten days, according to data released by China Iron and Steel Association (CISA).

Among China's six major regions, four saw daily crude steel output fall 2.8-9.3%, while production in northeastern and central-southern China increased 1.9% and 1%, respectively, compared to the previous ten days, the CISA said.

Daily output of pig iron averaged 1.84 million tonnes during the same period, falling 1.5% from late November, while daily output of finished steel slumped 10.9% from ten days ago to 1.93 million tonnes.

In northeastern China, daily output of pig iron increased by 1.5%, compared to late November. Daily production of pig iron in northern  and northwestern China fell 4.1% and 4.4%, respectively.

Northeastern, eastern and central-southern China posted two-digit declines in steel products daily output during early December, at 21.8%, 12.5% and 13.3%, respectively, compared to previous ten days. Daily steel product output in northern, northwestern and southwestern China fell 7.8%, 4.6% and 0.8%.

During the same period, the daily output of crude steel in China was estimated to be 2.57 million tonnes, a 3% decrease from ten days ago. That of pig iron was 2.23 million tonnes, down 1.3% compared to the previous ten days. Daily finished steel output fell 3% from ten days ago to 3.84 million tonnes.