China NPI output down 8.6% in Jan

Published: Feb 8, 2018 09:42

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China’s nickel pig iron (NPI) production in January stood at 36,900 mt, down 8.6% month on month but up 7.6% from January 2017, SMM data showed.

SHANGHAI, Feb 8 (SMM) – China’s nickel pig iron (NPI) production in January stood at 36,900 mt, down 8.6% month on month but up 7.6% from January 2017, SMM data showed.

The drop from December was mostly due to maintenance work at major ageing NPI plants and cold weather in the north. In addition, some integrated stainless steel mills have cut their production on poor stainless steel sales.

For 2018, however, SMM forecast the country’s NPI output to grow 18% to 500,000 mt.

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