[SMM Blast Furnace Operating Rate] Increased Winter Breaks & Annual Maintenance Led to Significant Decline in Pig Iron Production

According to an SMM survey, on November 20, the operating rate of blast furnaces at 242 surveyed steel mills was 89.83%, down 0.91% WoW. The capacity utilisation rate of blast furnaces was 90.55%, down 0.79% WoW. The daily average pig iron production of the sample steel mills was 2.4215 million mt, down 32,000 mt WoW.

Image 1: Blast Furnace Operating Rate & Capacity Utilisation Rate

Data Source: SMM

Image 2: Future Pig Iron Forecast

This week, seven blast furnaces were under maintenance, while one blast furnace resumed production. According to SMM, the blast furnaces under maintenance this week were mainly concentrated in north-west China, where the temperature dropped significantly, leading to the winter break of some steel mills' blast furnaces. In north China, a few steel mills conducted routine annual maintenance. Overall, pig iron production showed a significant decline. Looking ahead to next week, if the blast furnaces under maintenance resume production as planned, pig iron production is expected to rise again.

190 Blast Furnace Sample