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

Published: Nov 13, 2024 16:01

Source: SMM

Save

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.

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

Market forecast Market review

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

15 hours ago

MMi Daily Iron Ore Report (March 2)

Today, DCE iron ore futures trended stronger today, with the most-traded I2605 contract closing at 754.5 RMB/ton, an increase of 0.87% from the previous trading session.

15 hours ago

[Domestic Iron Ore Brief] Iron Ore Concentrates Prices in Shandong Region May Have Some Upside Potential

[Domestic Iron Ore Brief: Shandong Region Iron Ore Concentrates Prices May Have Some Upside Potential] In the west Liaoning region, domestic iron ore prices remained relatively stable, with 66 grade iron ore concentrates wet basis ex-factory prices at 745-755 yuan/mt; feedback from local mines and beneficiation plants indicated that during the Two Sessions next week, there may be some restrictions on explosives, further exacerbating the overall tightness of iron ore concentrates resources. Demand side, local steel mills are currently operating according to plan

15 hours ago

[SMM Coking Coal and Coke Daily Brief] 20260302

[SMM coking coal and coke daily brief] In terms of supply, the average profit per mt of coke is around the break-even point, with normal production. However, due to downstream wait-and-see sentiment and some steel mills controlling arrivals, the shipment pace of some coke enterprises has slowed down, leading to a continuous accumulation of coke inventory. On the demand side, the resumption of production at steel mills is slow, and their own coke inventories are at reasonable levels. Additionally, during the Chinese New Year, the accumulation of finished product inventory led to continuously compressed steel mill profits, resulting in mainly purchasing coke as needed. In summary, the willingness of steel mills to seek profit from the raw material end is increasing, and recently, cost support for coke may weaken. Therefore, the current market is characterized by a strong wait-and-see sentiment, and in the short term, the coke market is expected to be in the doldrums, with expectations of price reductions.

15 hours ago