Daily crude steel output among key surveyed mills fell 0.4% in mid-August from the preceding ten-day period, while steel product output rose 5.3%, data from the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) showed.

The surveyed mills produced 19.65 million tonnes of crude steel in August 11-20, averaging 1.97 million tonnes per day, down 0.4% from early August. Pig iron output totaled 18.20 million tonnes, or 1.82 million tonnes per day, down 1.6%, while steel product output reached 19.15 million tonnes, or 1.92 million tonnes per day, up 5.3%.

Based on these figures, CISA estimated national daily crude steel output at 2.49 million tonnes in mid-August, down 6.7% from the preceding ten-day period. National daily pig iron output was estimated at 2.21 million tonnes, down 5.6%, and daily steel product output at 3.76 million tonnes, down 7.2%.

By region, daily crude steel output among surveyed mills fell in North China, East China, Northwest and Southwest, while rising in Northeast and Central-South China.  North China saw the decline of 8,000 tonnes per day, or 1.2%, with Hebei province down 9,000 tonnes per day and Inner Mongolia down 8,000 tonnes per day. East China output fell 10,000 tonnes per day, or 1.7%, led by Jiangsu province down 9,000 tonnes per day.

Northeast China crude steel output rose 8,000 tonnes per day, or 3.8%, driven by Liaoning province up 9,000 tonnes per day. Central-South China output increased 6,000 tonnes per day, or 1.8%, with gains across Hunan, Henan, Guangxi and Guangdong provinces.

Daily pig iron output fell in all regions except Northeast China. North China saw the decline of 10,000 tonnes per day, or 1.6%, with Hebei down 8,000 tonnes per day and Inner Mongolia down 8,000 tonnes per day. East China output fell 15,000 tonnes per day, or 2.7%, led by Jiangsu down 6,000 tonnes per day.

Steel product output rose in most regions except Northwest, which fell 1,000 tonnes per day, or 1.6%, and Southwest, which was broadly flat. Northeast China saw the largest increase of 12.7% per day, driven by Liaoning province up 20,000 tonnes per day. North China output rose 44,000 tonnes per day, or 6.8%, with Hebei up 28,000 tonnes per day and Shanxi up 14,000 tonnes per day.

Central-South China steel product output increased 26,000 tonnes per day, or 8.8%, with gains across Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan provinces. East China output rose 8,000 tonnes per day, or 1.6%, despite Jiangsu falling 10,000 tonnes per day.