SHANGHAI, May 11 (SMM) – China’s stainless steel production continued to recover in April, increasing 180,000 mt, or 8.95% from March to 2.22 million mt, showed an SMM survey.

300-series accounted for 1.13 million mt, up 126,000 mt month on month, while production of 200-series rose 112,000 mt to 769,000 mt. Production of 400-series, meanwhile, dropped 56,000 mt to 316,000 mt as a large mill in north China trimmed output.

On a yearly basis, China’s stainless steel production in April was 5.5% lower, compared to a 13.2% decline in March.

Stainless steel mills in China saw their profits improving in a rising market, and orders they have received were healthy. China’s stainless steel production is expected to expand to 2.31 million mt in May, with 300-series accounting for 1.19 million mt.

May’s production of 300-series stainless steel would be 58,000 mt higher than a month ago and largely flat with the same month of last year.