SHANGHAI, Dec 17 (SMM) – China’s steel production increased moderately in early December.

The China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) reported Wednesday that crude steel output across major mills in China averaged 2.2 million mt per day in the first 10 days of December, up 4.6% from late November and up 11.96% from the same period a year ago.

Average daily production of pig iron across those mills rose 5.77% from late November to 1.95 million mt in early December, while that of steel products dropped 1.93% to 2.09 million mt.

As of December 10, inventories of steel products across those mills stood at 12.68 million mt, up 1.31 million mt from the end of November. The stocks were 3.15 million mt, or 33.02% higher than the beginning of the year.