SHANGHAI, Apr 21 (SMM) – China's steel production increased moderately in early April.

The China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) reported that crude steel output across major mills in China averaged 2.27 million mt per day in the first ten days of April, up 2.88% from late March and up 16.86% from the same period a year ago.

Average daily production of pig iron across those mills rose 2.55% from late March to 1.96 million mt in early April, and that of steel products fell 5.81% to 2.09 million mt.

As of April 10, inventories of steel products across those mills stood at 15.5 million mt, up 788,900 mt from late March. The stocks were 3.87 million mt, or 33.34% higher than the beginning of the year, and were 2.46 million mt, or 13.68% lower than the same period last year.