Posted on 25 Feb 2026
China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) members' crude steel production saw a rebound in early February while finished steel output dropped due to the off-season impact from the Spring Festival.
The average daily crude steel output of CISA members went up 0.6% period-on-period to around 1.95 million tonnes but decreased 8.8% year-on-year, Kallanish notes. Production in the North region rose 0.6% versus ten days earlier to around 628,000 t/day in the reporting period while that in the East region dropped 1.3% to approximately 592,000 t/d.
Meanwhile, pig iron production increased 1.8% on-period to around 1.77m t/d in early February but fell 9.7% compared to the same period last year.
However, the finished steel production slumped 8.6% p-o-p to around 1.75m t/d after excluding the impact of some companies concentrated warehousing and settlements at the end of last month because certain steelmakers reduced their production intensity. This was also 10.4% lower compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, the steel inventories of CISA members grew 2.7% on-period to 15.11mt but fell 6.8% y-o-y.
CISA estimated that the national crude steel increased 0.6% on-period to 2.4m t/d, reaching the lowest level in the past five years. The estimated national pig iron production was up 1.8% on-period to 2.13m t/d while finished steel output fell 4.3% to 3.81m t/d.
Source:Kallanish
