WEEKLY: China BF mills' output falls further amid thinning margins

Production among Chinese blast furnace (BF) steel producers continued to shrink during November 21-27 as more mills started maintenance works, Mysteel's latest survey showed. Widening losses on steel sales dampened mills' producing enthusiasm as well.

During the latest survey period, the average capacity utilization rate among the 247 BF steelmakers nationwide under Mysteel's regular tracking slid for the second straight week by another 0.6 percentage point on week to 88%, with their combined output of hot metal falling by 0.7% from the prior week