SHANGHAI, Apr. 22 (SMM) – Hot-rolled coil supply increased noticeably in April due to the bearish outlook and commissioning and resumption of blast furnaces.

Anyang Steel Mill’s 4,800 m³blast furnace came online on March 18, with its monthly hot-rolled coil output up from 60,000 mt to 200,000 mt. Lianyuan Iron & Steel also put its three 500 m³blast furnaces into operation in late March to take the place of a 2,800 m³furnace. The mill’s monthly hot-rolled output thus increased from 200,000 mt to 250,000 mt. Chengde Iron & Steel resumed its hot-rolled coil production in March, with hot-rolled coil output up from 0 mt to 300,000 mt.

Hot-rolled coil output from these three steel mills increased 500,000 mt in April. The projects of Anyang Steel and Lianyuan Iron & Steel were delayed due to the NPC and CPPCC sessions, so most of their projects did not come into operation until this month. The increasing output may continue to weigh on prices.