SMM Survey: Maintenance of Hot-Rolling Steel Mills Expanded in August, but Will Decline Sharply in September

High-carbon ferrochrome output fell sharply amid power restrictions. The main production areas, including Inner Mongolia, Guangxi and Sichuan all have power curtailment.

A roundup of the ferrous metals headlines of the week.

SMM data showed that China's didymium oxide output stood at 6,714 mt in June, down 6.31% from the previous month.

SMM data showed that China produced 334,800 mt of secondary lead in March, up 53.79% from February, and up 194.23% from a year ago.

China produced 280,900 mt of primary lead in March, up 12.17% from February, and up 17.23% from a year ago.

SMM data showed that China's silicon metal output stood at 202,000 mt in March, basically flat from the previous month.

SMM data showed that China produced 250,500 mt of primary lead in February, down 4.14% from December, and up 17% from a year ago.

China's refined zinc output stood at 542,000 mt in January, falling 11,200 mt or down 2.02% on month and up 2.6% on year.

China’s copper cathode output increased month on month in October, as there was basically no maintenance at smelters and as large-scale smelters maintained high production in Q4. Although domestic copper scrap was in short supply in October, smelters kept relatively ample stocks of blister copper. Furthermore, as the new secondary copper policy took effect from November 1, concerns over copper scrap supply were eased.

China's refined zinc output stood at 569,200 mt in October, rising 19,700 mt or up 3.59% on month and up 7.56% on year.