[SMM survey] Under the pressure of the off-season, August hot metal production may remain stable.

Published: Aug 5, 2026 16:15

Save

According to SMM's tracking survey data, daily average pig iron production in July fell by more than 20,000 mt compared with June. The average daily hot metal production in August is expected to be on par with July, facing significant resistance to growth.

According to SMM's tracking survey data, in July, steel mills nationwide had blast furnaces with 28 undergoing new maintenance, resulting in a daily hot metal reduction of approximately 111,300 mt . The maintenance was mainly concentrated in North China. Meanwhile, 26 blast furnaces resumed production, adding a daily hot metal output of about 102,300 mt . Production resumptions were also mainly in North China, primarily due to short-term maintenance and recovery caused by environmental protection-driven production restrictions in Hebei. SMM survey data shows that in July, blast furnace maintenance led to a net decrease of 5.9742 million mt in hot metal production, up 920,000 mt MoM from June. According to SMM's daily average hot metal production data, daily average pig iron production in July was down by over 20,000 mt compared to June.

Source: SMM

According to SMM's latest survey data, in August, steel mills nationwide plan to have 12 blast furnaces undergoing new maintenance , mainly in North China, with a daily hot metal reduction of about 65,900 mt; meanwhile, 19 blast furnaces will resume production , adding a daily hot metal output of about 76,300 mt; based on comprehensive calculations, it is expected that blast furnace maintenance will result in a net decrease of 6.04 million mt in hot metal production in August, with the average daily hot metal production edging up by 2,300 mt MoM from July. Considering the ongoing off-season impact and the significant steel inventory pressure at some steel mills, there is still a possibility of new blast furnace shutdowns or maintenance in August, so hot metal production is unlikely to grow in the month.

Source: SMM

Welcome to follow SMM's weekly report on the 242-sample blast furnace operating rate and daily average hot metal production every Wednesday:

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.

Images in this article contain AI-translated captions for reference only.

For any inquiries or for 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

4 mins ago

MMi Daily Iron Ore Report (August 5)

Today, the DCE iron ore futures trended higher today. DCE’s most-traded I2609 contract closed at 706 yuan/mt, up 0.93% from the previous trading session. Spot prices at Qingdao Port rose 3–8 yuan/mt from the prior trading day. Traders quoted actively, while steel mills purchased as needed, leaving overall spot trading moderate.

4 mins ago

29 mins ago

[News Flash] Tata Motors Boosts Vehicle Recycling Capacity

29 mins ago

48 mins ago

[EU consults on steel regulation scope, posing new compliance risks for Vietnam]

The European Commission has launched a consultation on expanding the scope of its 2026 Steel Regulation, which cuts duty-free steel import quotas to 18.3 million mt/year, nearly 47% below 2024 levels, and raises the out-of-quota tariff to 50%. The regulation also introduces “melt and pour” traceability, requiring importers to identify where steel was originally melted and cast. The consultation considers adding four product groups, including stainless steel wire, steel wire, cast iron pipes and forged steel bars, and will remain open until September 30, 2026. The new rules could pose challenges for Vietnamese exporters using imported billets or hot-rolled steel, as products may be counted under the raw material’s country of origin rather than Vietnam. Vietnam’s steel exports to the EU already fell 18.3% in volume and 23.3% in value year on year in the first five months of 2026. Exporters, particularly those in stainless steel wire and steel pipes, are advised to closely monitor the consultation and engage with EU importers and industry associations.

48 mins ago