China’s output of pig iron increased 7.5% to 72.02 million mt in April from a month ago, to generate a year-over-year decline of 1.2%, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released on Friday.

SMM data showed that HRC stocks across social warehouses and steelmakers decreased 4.17% in the week ended May 14 to 4.26 million mt, marking the ninth straight weekly decline.

Operations at Chinese manufacturers of flat-rolled copper products slowed in April, as backlogged orders had been fulfilled and as the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions dealt a blow to the demand that have already been weak.

Chinese electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers operating rates continued to edge higher as of early May, driven by the resumption of producers in central China as the spread of the coronavirus has stalled. However, the rally in operations will be constrained due to a surge in feedstock steel scrap prices. 

Data published by the industry body on Tuesday showed that social inventories of hot- and cold-rolled plates/coils, heavy & medium plates, wire rods and rebar in 20 Chinese cities stood at 16.24 million mt as of the end of April, down 930,000 mt, or 5.4% from April 20.

Guangxi Tianyuan New Energy Material has put its 10,000 mt/year lithium carbonate production line into operation, SMM learned.

Southwest China’s Sichuan province lowered electricity tariffs to the normal season mode on Saturday. There were barely any silicon producers in the region stepping up production, SMM research found, due to weak silicon prices and limited power supply caused by continued drought.

Hebei Jinxi Iron & Steel plans to put a 2,000m³ blast furnace into operation at the end of May, SMM learned.

The global widespread of COVID-19 has forced many countries to enforce stringent containment measures which result in a heavy impact on global economic activity. Over the past two months, we saw serious disruption of manpower, transportation and production in China. We are now seeing these scenarios happening around the world. 

Inventories of hot-rolled coils of steel sheets used to produce home appliances and cars in China fell for a third straight this week, as demand from north China was strong. SMM data showed that HRC stocks across social warehouses and steelmakers decreased 2.2% in the week ended April 2 to 5.45 million mt, 73.62% higher than the same period after the Lunar New Year holiday last year. The stocks fell 1.38% in the prior week.