China's refined zinc output stood at 549,500 mt in September, rising 40,500 or up 7.95% on month and up 6.57% on year.

China's copper cathode output was largely unchanged month on month in September, staying at high levels, as some large-scale smelters stepped up production in order to fulfill annual output targets and imports of copper concentrate rebounded significantly. However, output at smelters that use copper scrap as raw materials slid on the month as the price spread between copper cathode and copper scrap narrowed as domestic copper scrap supply tightened.

SMM data showed that China produced 285,000 mt of primary lead in August, up 9.99% from July, and up 12.01% from a year ago.

China’s refined tin output fell MoM in July as a large-scale smelter in Yunnan suspended production for maintenance.

China’s primary lead output ended its four-month increases and fell by more than 10,000 mt in July as primary lead smelters, including Yunnan Chihong, Jiangxi Copper, Hunan Shuikoushan and Jingui, undertook routine maintenance. Besides, equipment breakdown across some smelters in Henan, Jiangxi and Yunnan further weighed on July output.

China’s NPI output fell 3% from June and 14.74% from a year earlier to 43,200 mt (Ni content) in July. This included 36,000 mt (Ni content) of high-grade NPI, down 3.87% on month, and 7,200 mt (Ni content) of low-grade NPI, up 1.56% month on month.

China produced 14,600 mt of refined nickel in July, down 3.05% or 460 mt from June, but up 15.73% from a year earlier.

Most steelmakers in China continued to maintain full operations and the impact of maintenance on output will further reduce from a month ago in June, driven by existing profits of rebar.

Output of cold-rolled steel (including galvanised steel) at Benxi Iron & Steel is expected to reduce 158,000 mt in May as the steelmaker plans to put a cold rolling mill into maintenance this month, sources told SMM. 

A copper smelter in south-west China has put its facilities into month-long maintenance as scheduled, sources told SMM.