WEEKLY: China BF mills' output falls faster WoW

The production decline among Chinese blast furnace (BF) steel producers accelerated during December 5-11, as more mills conducted maintenance work at their furnaces amid shrinking profit margins and some mills in North and Central China faced mandated production curbs due to worsening air pollution, Mysteel's survey showed.

During the latest survey period, the average capacity utilization rate among the 247 BF steelmakers nationwide under Mysteel's tracking slid for the fourth straight week, down by a larger 1.2 percentage points to sit at 85.9%, with their combined output of hot metal falling by 1.3% on week to