Wu’an deepens production curbs on sintering machines in Aug

SHANGHAI, Aug 2 (SMM) – Wu'an, one of China's major steelmaking hubs in Hebei province, ramped up its production curbs on sintering machines, effective through August, according to its intensified plan for smog control released on July 31.

This came on top of the production controls for July-August that were detailed in the smog control plan for the third quarter. Restrictions on blast furnaces remained unchanged.

The new plan classified 14 steelmakers across the region into three groups, which have been required to deepen curbs on their sintering machines by 20%, 15% and 10%.

Four mills are allowed to raise production by 10%, as three of them transported commodities by rail and the other one achieved substantial progress in withdrawing its plant from urban areas.

SMM calculations showed that the latest plan is expected to affect 987,300 mt of pig iron capacity and 1.7 million mt of iron ore demand in August.

In July, 958,400 mt of pig iron capacity and 1.65 million mt of iron ore demand were affected by production cuts required by the city government.

Wu’an’s move came after a potential ease from the top steelmaking city of Tangshan in production curbs on steelmakers.