SMM data showed that China's refined zinc output stood at 508,900 mt in August, down 1.22% on the month and 0.04% on the year. Output from January to August was 4.04 million mt, a year-on-year increase of 4.47%. Alloy output at domestic refined zinc smelters in SMM’s survey sample registered 75,500 mt in August, up 80 mt on the month.

The maintenance starts from Nov 15

Rizhao Steel in Shandong province is putting one of its hot-rolled coil production lines in maintenance for 18 days from May 27, SMM learned.

Jiangsu Shente Steel plans to extend its maintenance of a 450m³ furnace by 10 days after April 30, when the maintenance was originally set to complete. About 2,000 mt daily output of molten iron will

Jiujiang Pinggang Iron and Steel has put one of its 1,780m³ blast furnace in maintenance on Monday April 16, SMM learned.

Three nickel pig iron (NPI) plants in Inner Mongolia were set to be suspended for maintenance this month due to aging facilities, SMM learned.

Zenith Steel has put one of its rebar production lines on maintenance for the whole of January.

As per SMM research, due to recent weak NPI price, domestic NPI plants are suppressed in profits.

As per SMM research, in September price difference of premiums and discounts of Jinchuan Russian Nickel rise after drop.

The table below shows inventories of base metals on the LME on October 17.