According to SMM survey data, 33 blast furnaces underwent maintenance in November, resulting in a daily hot metal reduction of 130,000 mt. Meanwhile, 17 blast furnaces resumed production, increasing daily hot metal output by 70,000 mt. Maintenance this month was mainly concentrated in Northwest, North, and East China; some steel mills in the Northwest region began winter breaks, while other regions primarily conducted annual maintenance. SMM survey data shows that blast furnace maintenance in November led to a net decrease of 5.62 million mt in hot metal production, down 850,000 mt MoM from October. Based on SMM's daily average hot metal production data, the daily average pig iron production in November fell by 20,000 mt compared to October.
As of now, SMM survey statistics indicate that 20 blast furnaces are scheduled for maintenance in December, with an expected daily hot metal reduction of 90,000 mt; meanwhile, 21 blast furnaces are planned to resume production, with an expected daily hot metal increase of 80,000 mt. Current maintenance is mostly concentrated in North China, mainly for annual overhauls. Considering the year-end, steel mills are increasing production control and annual maintenance plans. Additionally, some regions have been in loss-making positions for a long time; although short-term steel mill profits have improved recently, inland steel mills remain in a loss-making state. If construction steel demand declines further, blast furnace maintenance at steel mills is expected to increase. Furthermore, based on SMM's historical maintenance data, December is a peak season for blast furnace maintenance. The actual number of maintenance activities is expected to exceed current statistics. Overall, monthly pig iron production in December is projected to continue hitting bottom.
SMM Blast Furnace Maintenance Count and Impact Since 2024 (Monthly)
Data Source: SMM
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