SHANGHAI, Aug 9 (SMM) – China’s output of stainless steel came in at 2.53 million mt in July, up 3.71% from June and 18.65% from July 2018, showed an SMM survey on Thursday August 8.

Higher margins drove stainless steel mills to raise the output of #300 series at the expense of #400 series. 

SMM data showed that production of the #300 stainless steel grew 3.91% on the month and 9.36% on the year to stand at 1.17 million mt in July, while output of #400 products slid 8.98% from a month ago to 390,000 mt. Output of the #200 series increased 9.63% month on month to 968,000 mt. 

For August, scheduled output of the three types of stainless steel all climbed on the month, totalling 2.6 million mt, according to SMM data. 

Improved orders boosted planned production of the #300 series to 1.21 million mt, up 2.99% from July. Output of the #200 series will gain 3.51% on the month to 1 million mt, and that of the #400 series may inch up 0.23% to stand at 395,000 mt.