[SMM Blast Furnace Operating Rate] Resumption and maintenance of blast furnaces significantly increased, dragging down operating rate

According to the SMM survey, on July 3, the operating rate of blast furnaces surveyed by SMM was 94.36%, down 0.14% WoW. The capacity utilization rate of blast furnaces was 96.43%, up 0.1% WoW. The average daily pig iron output of the sample steel mills was 2.3055 million mt, up 3,000 mt.

Image 1: Blast Furnace Operating Rate & Capacity Utilization Rate

Data source: SMM

Image 2: Pig Iron Forecast

Data source: SMM

This week, five blast furnaces were under maintenance, including two in north China, and one each in central China, east China, and north-east China. Four blast furnaces resumed production, with two in north China, and one each in east China and north-east China. The operating rate of blast furnaces slightly decreased, while pig iron output slightly increased. Looking ahead, in the off-season, steel consumption is weakening. On the raw material, with high pig iron output, coke enterprises have a strong willingness to increase prices, putting some pressure on steel mills' costs, with an expectation of further profit contraction. Therefore, under the impact of profit contraction and off-season for consumption, steel mill maintenance may increase, and it is expected that pig iron output will slightly decrease next week.

242 samples of the blast furnace have been freshly released!