[SMM Blast Furnace Operating Rates] As Blast Furnaces Gradually Resumed Production, Pig Iron Production Rose Slightly

According to an SMM survey, as of January 8, the operating rate of blast furnaces at 242 steel mills surveyed by SMM was 85.33%, up 0.26 percentage points WoW. The capacity utilisation rate of blast furnaces was 86.88%, up 0.83 percentage points WoW. The daily pig iron production of the sample steel mills averaged 2.346 million mt, up 15,100 mt WoW.

During this period, a total of six blast furnaces underwent maintenance, while eight blast furnaces resumed production. The blast furnaces under maintenance were mainly located in Shanxi and Shaanxi, while those resuming production were primarily in Jiangsu, Shanxi, and Henan. Previously, blast furnaces that had been shut down due to environmental protection restrictions and routine maintenance have gradually resumed production, leading to an upward trend in pig iron production during this period. Based on SMM tracking data, four blast furnaces are expected to undergo maintenance next week, while six are expected to resume production. Although some blast furnaces have scheduled annual maintenance plans, considering the normal resumption of blast furnaces in the earlier period, pig iron production is expected to continue to rise.