China's key steel mills held 16.25 million tonnes of steel products by August 31，2026, down 2.08 million tonnes or 11.4% from August 20, according to data from the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA). Inventories rose 2.11 million tonnes or 14.9% from the start of the year, fell 30,000 tonnes or 0.2% from the same period in July, and increased 1.27 million tonnes or 8.5% year on year. Compared with the same period two years earlier, stocks were up 1.71 million tonnes or 11.8%.