Production Resumptions In North China Drove Up Blast Furnaces Operating Rates

SHANGHAI, Apr 17 (SMM) – According to SMM survey, the average operating rate of blast furnaces stood at 95.25% last week, up 0.6 percentage point from a week ago. The average capacity utilisation rate stood at 96.41%, a gain of 0.74 percentage point. The daily average pig iron production of sample steel mills was 2.31 million mt, an increase of 17,700 mt. Four blast furnaces in north-east and north China were brought back into operation, allowing the overall operating rates to grow.

This week, the blast furnace operating rates may drop slightly due to delayed production resumption and planned maintenance by some steel mills in north, east and central China.