China's crude steel production continued to maintain a steady growth pace in July, with crude steel production reaching 41.25 million mt, up 5.2241 million mt or 14.5 percent year on year. However, the daily output decreased by 73,300 mt/day from its level in June 2007 to 1.3307 million mt in July. With the latest figures, total crude steel production from January to July reached 279 million mt, up 43.54 million mt or 18.5 percent year on year.
With regard to pig iron, the production increased 4.6261 million mt or 13.2 percent from July 2006 to 39.67 million mt in July 2007. total pig iron production from January to July 2007 reached 267 million mt, up 37.75 million mt or 16.5 percent.
Meanwhile, finished steel production in July registered a 23.9 percent or a 9.2062 million mt year on year increase, reaching 47.7257 million mt. With this figure, total production through January-July reached 319 million mt, up 63.2 million mt or 24.3 percent.
Among the main steel products, the output of profiles in July reached 3.3286 million mt, up 894,100 mt or 36.7 percent; while the cumulative figure for the first seven months reached 22.3218 million mt, up 4.5517 million mt or 25.6 percent.
In July, rebar output reached 8.5249 million mt, up 1.4444 million mt or 20.4 percent, while the cumulative production for the first seven months reached 57.03 million mt, up 8.0346 million mt or 16.4 percent.
Wire rod output reached 7.0338 million mt in July, up 764,800 mt or 12.2 percent. From January to July, total production reached 46.0289 million mt, up 6.5191 million mt or 16.5 percent.
4.4334 million mt of plate production in July indicated an increase of 1.2774 million mt or 40.5 percent from the same month of last year. With this figure, the first seven months' cumulative production reached 29.2993 million mt, up 8.3803 million mt or 40.1 percent.
Hot rolled coil/sheet production in the same month reached 7.281 million mt, with an increase of 1.8841 million mt or 34.9 percent year on year; bringing the total output in this year so far to 47.9902 million mt, up 12.9078 million mt or 36.8 percent.
The mills in China produced 2.7348 million mt of cold rolled coils/sheet in July, up 683,900 mt or 30.5 percent, and the total figure for the first seven months reached 18.8255 million mt, indicating a strong 37 percent or 5.0794 million mt increase from last year.
Hot rolled narrow strip output in July increased 156,800 mt or 5.2 percent year on year to reach 3.1724 million mt; with total production of 23.1659 million mt for the first seven months, up 2.6105 million mt or 12.7 percent. The small rate of increase has caused a shortage of narrow strip products. Therefore, the prices of these products have increased to the level of hot rolled coil prices, although normally there would be around a $20/mt price difference between these products.
Galvanized coil production in July reached 1.5307 million mt, up 291,300 mt or 23.5 percent. Cumulative production from January to July reached 11.7451 million mt, up 4.4409 million mt or 60.8 percent. The strong increase in production has contributed to the weak price trend in 2007.
The output of color coated coils increased 28,800 mt or 12.9 percent year on year to 252.200 mt in July. The output from January to July reached 1.6508 million mt, up 348,900 mt or 26.8 percent.
Electrical sheet production reached 352,100 mt in July, up 78,300 mt or 28.6 percent. The cumulative production so far in 2007 reached 2.3365 million mt, up 403,900 mt or 20.9 percent.
Seamless steel tube output in July reached 1.662 million mt, up 380,600 mt or 29.7 percent. Total production in the first seven months is 10.5889 million mt, up 2.0495 million mt or 24 percent from the same period of last year.
Welded pipe output increased 374,500 mt or 22.8 percent to reach 2.0169 million mt in July. The cumulative figure from January to July reached 12.7434 million mt, up 1.3552 million mt or 11.9 percent.
On the other hand, China's iron ore output also registered a sharp year on year increase of 8.5345 million mt or 16.4 percent to 60.5742 million mt in July. Cumulative production in the first seven months is 380.4188 million mt, up 80.1672 million mt or 26.7 percent.
The 28.1079 million mt of coke production in July was 4.0635 million mt or 16.9 percent higher compared to a year ago. Cumulative production from January to July was also up 31.2702 million mt or 20.4 percent at 184.5552 million mt.
Ferroalloy production for the month in question reached 1.4298 million mt, up 177,800 mt or 14.2 percent year on year. Cumulative production from January to July reached 9.5285 million mt, up 2.3588 million mt or 32.9 percent.