China's key steel mills saw crude steel output decline in mid-July from the previous 10-day period, while steel product output rose.

Key mills produced 20.15 million tonnes of crude steel in mid-July, with daily output of 2.02 million tonnes, down 0.4% from early July, data from the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) showed.

Pig iron output stood at 18.41 million tonnes, or 1.84 million tonnes per day, down 1.3% from the previous period. Steel product output reached 19.29 million tonnes, with daily output of 1.93 million tonnes, up 2.5% from the prior 10-day period.

Based on these figures, China's national daily crude steel output in mid-July was estimated at 2.72 million tonnes, down 0.4% from the previous period. Daily pig iron output was estimated at 2.33 million tonnes, down 1.3%, while daily steel product output was estimated at 4.13 million tonnes, up 1.3%.

By region, crude steel output fell in four of the six major regions in mid-July compared with the previous 10-day period, with only the northeast and central-south regions posting gains.

North China crude steel output fell 15,000 tonnes per day (t/d), or 2.2%, with Shanxi province down 11,000 t/d (9.8%) and Hebei down 7,000 t/d (1.4%). Tianjin bucked the trend with a gain of 3,000 t/d (5.5%).

East China crude steel output fell 9,000 t/d (1.5%), led by Jiangsu province down 13,000 t/d (5.3%), Shandong down 3,000 t/d (2.7%) and Jiangxi down 2,000 t/d (2.4%). Fujian, Zhejiang and Shanghai posted gains.

Northwest China crude steel output fell 9,000 t/d (8.7%), mainly due to declines in Shaanxi (3,000 t/d, 9.6%), Xinjiang (3,000 t/d, 13.9%) and Gansu (2,000 t/d, 7.3%).

Southwest China crude steel output fell 4,000 t/d (3.7%), with Guizhou down 4,000 t/d (31.7%). Northeast China crude steel output rose 9,000 t/d (4.3%), driven by Liaoning province up 10,000 t/d (6.6%).

Central-south China crude steel output rose 21,000 t/d (6.3%), mainly due to Henan up 17,000 t/d (28%) and Guangxi up 4,000 t/d (6.5%).

Pig iron output fell in four of the six major regions in mid-July compared to early July, with only the northeast and central-south regions posting gains.

North China pig iron output fell 23,000 t/d (3.6%), with Shanxi down 15,000 t/d (14.3%) and Hebei down 7,000 t/d (1.6%).

East China pig iron output fell 9,000 t/d (1.7%), led by Jiangsu down 4,000 t/d (2.2%), Anhui down 2,000 t/d (4.2%), Jiangxi down 2,000 t/d (3.5%) and Shandong down 2,000 t/d (1.8%).

Northwest China pig iron output fell 6,000 t/d (6.7%), mainly due to Xinjiang down 3,000 t/d (14.3%), Shaanxi down 2,000 t/d (5.7%) and Gansu down 1,000 t/d (4.2%).

Southwest China pig iron output fell 4,000 t/d (3.5%), with Guizhou down 3,000 t/d (33.9%).

Northeast China pig iron output rose 5,000 t/d (2.7%), driven by Liaoning up 6,000 t/d (4.5%).

Central-south China pig iron output rose 12,000 t/d (4%), with Henan up 6,000 t/d (9.6%), Guangxi up 3,000 t/d (6.2%) and Hubei up 3,000 t/d (4.2%).

Steel product output rose in four of the six major regions in mid-July, with only eastern China and northwestern China posting declines.

Northeast China steel product output rose 13,000 t/d (8.4%), driven by Liaoning up 14,000 t/d (11.2%).

North China steel product output rose 15,000 t/d (2.3%), with Hebei up 9,000 t/d (1.9%), Tianjin up 5,000 t/d (8.4%) and Shanxi up 3,000 t/d (3%). Inner Mongolia posted a decline of 2,000 t/d (4.6%).

Southwest China steel product output rose 1,000 t/d (0.8%), with Chongqing up 5,000 t/d (38.7%). Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan posted declines.

Central-south China steel product output rose 24,000 t/d (8.3%), mainly due to Hubei up 9,000 t/d (18.2%), Hunan up 7,000 t/d (12.6%), Henan up 6,000 t/d (9.6%) and Guangxi up 3,000 t/d (6.2%).

East China steel product output fell 3,000 t/d (0.5%), with Jiangsu down 13,000 t/d (5.7%). Fujian, Shandong and Anhui posted gains.

Northwest China steel product output fell 4,000 t/d (4.5%), with Shaanxi down 5,000 t/d (17.7%). Gansu posted a gain of 2,000 t/d (5.4%).