The 5.6% monthly increase in output was hardly plausible as utilization rate at domestic beneficiation plants slid to 58.5% in June, down 2.6 percentage points from May and 8.8 percentage points from a year ago. The average operating rate at Chinese private mines also fell by 4.7 percentage points to 50.46% in June, Steelease survey showed. 

 

Besides, the ROM grade is estimated at 9.9% based on data from NBS and China Customs, which is much lower than the 26% average grade covered by Steelease survey of 300 mines. 

 

Moreover, there are only modest increases in new mine capacity expansions this year, giving little support to high output for the month.  

 

The current sluggish market is expected to continue to push down average operating rate at domestic mines in July, Steelease foresees.