【Blast Furnace Operating Rate】With New Blast Furnace Commissioned, Pig Iron Production Rose Again

According to an SMM survey, as of November 13, the operating rate of blast furnaces at 242 surveyed steel mills was 90.74%, up 0.14% WoW. The capacity utilisation rate of blast furnaces was 91.34%, up 0.29% WoW. The daily average pig iron production of the sample steel mills was 2.4535 million mt, up 7,000 mt WoW.

Image 1: Blast Furnace Operating Rate & Capacity Utilisation Rate

Data Source: SMM

Image 2: Future Pig Iron Forecast

Data Source: SMM

During this period, three blast furnaces were under maintenance, five blast furnaces resumed production, and one new blast furnace was commissioned. Entering November, temperatures in north-west China began to drop, and some steel mills started winter breaks for their blast furnaces, leading to a decline in local pig iron production. However, some previously maintained blast furnaces resumed production during this period, and a new blast furnace in south-west China was commissioned, resulting in a slight increase in overall pig iron production.

Looking ahead to next week, some steel mills in north-west China still have winter break plans for their blast furnaces. Coupled with the recent contraction in steel mill profits and the current pressure from environmental protection-driven production restrictions, blast furnace maintenance may accelerate, and pig iron production is expected to decline again.

190 Sample Blast Furnace Operating Rate