From the Field to the Dashboard – Built by Experts, for Experts.
Discover What's Really Happening in the Steel Industry
Use the AI-powered search engine to analyze production activity, market trends, and news faster than ever before.
Try the Free AI Search EngineChina Steel Market: Stable Iron Ore Imports Despite Production Dip, Select Plant Activity Surges
China’s steel market presents a mixed picture, with stable iron ore imports contrasting with decreased domestic production. According to “China reduced iron ore production by 3.8% y/y in January-September,” iron ore production decreased by 3.8% year-on-year. This trend could not be directly linked to plant-level activity changes observed via satellite, but, as “Global pig iron production fell to a two-year low in September” reports, pig iron production is down, with possible impact on the steel making industry.
The mean steel plant activity in China experienced a substantial drop from 43% in September to 25% in October.
Wulanhot Steel Co., Ltd., an integrated BF-based plant in Inner Mongolia with a crude steel capacity of 1.05 million tonnes, showed a consistent upward trend in activity, reaching 82% in October, significantly above the national average. This increase in activity is not explicitly linked to any of the provided news articles.
Bengang Steel Plates Co., Ltd., a major plate producer in Liaoning with a crude steel capacity of 12.8 million tonnes using BF, BOF, and EAF technologies, saw a drop in activity from 52% in August to 40% in October, indicating a possible production slowdown. This drop in activity is not explicitly linked to any of the provided news articles.
Shandong Taishan Steel Group Co., Ltd., based in Shandong, has a crude steel capacity of 5 million tonnes utilizing integrated BF, BOF, and EAF processes for hot and cold rolled coil production. Activity at this plant has been consistently low and has been declining, dropping to 13% in October. This decline is not explicitly linked to any of the provided news articles.
The decrease in the mean steel plant activity suggests potential broader production adjustments. The continued high activity at Wulanhot Steel Co., Ltd. may indicate a regional shift in production. The article “China’s iron ore output down 3.8% in January-September 2025” could be a factor, but no direct link can be established.
Given the decreased mean steel plant activity and reduced iron ore production reported in “China reduced iron ore production by 3.8% y/y in January-September“, steel buyers should closely monitor inventory levels, especially for products sourced from Bengang Steel Plates Co., Ltd. Consider diversifying suppliers to mitigate potential disruptions. Analyze import data to assess the true impact from “Global pig iron production fell to a two-year low in September“.