Chinese key steel mills produced 1.98 million tonnes of crude steel averagely each day during December 11-20, down 2.3% 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 1-14.3%, while production in southwestern China increased 9.4%, compared to the previous ten days, the CISA said. Northeastern China saw its production basically flat from the last session.

Daily output of pig iron averaged 1.81 million tonnes during the same period, falling 1.6% from early-December, while daily output of finished steel rose 2.1% from ten days ago to 1.97 million tonnes.

In southwestern China, daily output of pig iron increased by 7.1% compared to early-December. Daily production of pig iron in northwestern China slumped 16.1%.

Northeastern China's steel products daily output during mid-December increased 12.4% compared to previous ten days, while that in northwestern China fell 12%.

During the same period, the daily output of crude steel in China was estimated to be 2.51 million tonnes, a 2.3% decrease from ten days ago. That of pig iron was 2.19 million tonnes, down 1.6% compared to the previous ten days. Daily finished steel output climbed 1.1% from ten days ago to 3.88 million tonnes.