SHANGHAI, Feb 22 (SMM)—The China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) reported Monday that major Chinese steel makers produced a total of 21.54 million mt of crude steel, 19.16 million mt of pig iron, 20.18 million mt of steel products and 3.39 million mt of coke in the first ten days of February.

The average daily output of crude steel stood at 2.15 million mt in early February, down 1.02% from late January, but up 11.09% from the same period last year; the average daily output of pig iron came in at 1.92 million mt, down 0.21% from late January, but up 6.61% from the same period last year; the average daily output of steel products stood at 2.02 million mt, down 8.13% from late January, but up 14.71% from the same period last year. 

As of February 10, inventories of steel products across those mills stood at 14.47 million mt, up 705,500 mt or 5.13% from the end of January. The stocks were 2.85 million mt, or 24.5% higher than the beginning of the year, but were 4.05 million mt, or 21.86%, lower than the same period last year.