Hebei's steel PMI bounces back to show growth in January

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the steel industry in North China's Hebei province, the country's top steel-production base, rebounded by 6.9 points on month in January to 52.9, returning above the 50-threshold connoting expansion for the first time since August 2025, according to the latest data released by the Hebei Metallurgical Industry Association.

The 52.9-point reading was significantly higher than China's national steel PMI released by the CFLP Steel Logistics Professional Committee on January 31 which had recovered by 3.6 points on month in January but only to 49.9, as Mysteel Global reported. The sub-index for new orders received by Hebei's steel mills climbed by 6.4 points on month