Blast furnace operating rates in China dipped for four straight weeks

SHANGHAI, Jul 9 (SMM) – Operating rates of blast furnaces at Chinese steelmakers continued to decline over the second week of July, falling 0.06 percentage point from a week ago to an average 90.1% as of July 8, showed an SMM survey. That marked the fourth consecutive week of decline. 

However, the operating rates are estimated to pick up next week due to positive prospects for near-term demand. 

Operating rates of blast furnaces in China (Source: SMM) 

In the ferrous market, the most-active September iron ore contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) rose 2.74% on Wednesday, leading gains among ferrous metals, as a continuous rise in the stock market gave a boost to investors sentiment. Concerns about the coronavirus impact intensified after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he has tested positive for the COVID-19. This darkened the supply prospects, which also lifted iron ore prices. 

Rebar futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) also surged to break up 3,700 yuan/mt on Wednesday, hitting the highest level in nearly seven months. 

Supply from steelmakers in China continued to decline. A separate SMM survey showed that the operating rates across independent electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mills in China stood at 73.24% as of July 7, down 4.49 percentage points from a week ago and down 11.52 percentage points from a month earlier.

On the demand front, transactions came stronger than expected as a surge in futures prices prompted traders to step up restocking, while the market was concerned that downpours and traffic controls during the period of national college entrance exam on July 7-9 to slow the release of demand. The national average transaction volumes of long steel, including rebar and wire rods, were above 250,000 mt in the recent days. 

SMM anticipates a resurgence in demand in the near future as the rainy season ends. This, coupled with sufficient liquidity and macro optimism, will likely sustain this round of rally in steel prices. 

Here are the details of the SMM survey:

A representative steelmaker in east China said it has diverted part of the molten iron, for the production of long steel, to steel strip, which enjoys higher profits. 

A steel mill in south China is currently in normal operation without plans for maintenance in the near term.

Long steel production at a major steel mill in central China has declined, as the producer shifted some capacity to cold and hot-rolled coils. It currently faces elevated in-plant inventories. 

A steelmaker in the south-west has ramped up its production to a record high level amid full operation. Its inventories also piled up, which may drive the mill into maintenance in the near term. 

A steel plant in north China has not concluded the overhaul at its 4000m³ blast furnace. It has put its rolling lines into staggered maintenance.