Pig Iron Output Loss Caused by Blast Furnace Maintenance is Expected to Dip 2% MoM in March

SHANGHAI, Feb 28 (SMM) - Steel demand begins to grow after the Chinese New Year holiday, pushing up the steel mills' production. SMM research showed that the number of blast furnaces resumed production in February far exceeded expectations.

A total of 22 blast furnaces resumed operations in February, with 9 in north China and 4 in central China. In addition, blast furnaces in north-west China, south-west China, east China and south China also resumed production. Pig ion output loss caused by blast furnace maintenance stood at 5.3 million mt.

According to SMM survey, a total of 12 blast furnaces will resume operation in March, which will affect the daily pig iron output by 54,000 mt. One blast furnace will carry out maintenance in March, which will reduce the daily pig iron output by 7,000 mt. The pig iron output will increase further. On the whole, pig iron output losses caused by blast furnace maintenance in March will fall 100,000 mt or 2% to 5.2 million mt.