Social inventories of five major steel products across 21 Chinese cities stood at 9.71 million tonnes in mid-August, down 1.5% or 150,000 tonnes from the preceding ten-day period, according to data from the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA).

Inventories were 2.5 million tonnes higher than at the start of the year, up 34.7%, and 1.28 million tonnes above the same period last year, a rise of 15.2%.

By region, stock changes varied across seven major areas in mid-August. East China saw the largest decline in both volume and percentage terms, while North and Northeast China posted slight decreases. Northwest China's inventories were flat, while other regions recorded modest increases.

Among the five major products, rebar posted the largest drop in both volume and percentage terms, while hot-rolled coil declined slightly. Medium-thick plate and wire rod inventories rose modestly, and cold-rolled coil was unchanged.

Year on year, all five product categories recorded inventory increases, with rebar showing the largest volume gain and hot-rolled coil the biggest percentage rise.