China’s crude steel production decreases by 2.2% in January

CISA data dated 5 February 2026 showed that by the end of January 2026, crude steel production at major steel enterprises declined compared with the prior period. Total crude steel production reached 21.28 million tons, with an average daily output of 1.935 million tons, representing a 2.2% monthly decrease.

During the same period, pig iron production was recorded at 19.15 million tons. Average daily output of 1.741 million tons indicated a 3.0% decrease from the previous period. In contrast, steel product output reached 21.3 million tons, with an average daily production of 1.936 million tons, marking a 3.2% monthly increase.

According to CISA estimates, national daily crude steel production at the end of January was 2.39 million tons, down 2.2% from the previous month. Daily pig iron output decreased by 3.0% to 2.1 million tons, while daily steel output increased 1.3% to 3.98 million tons.

Some enterprises rapidly reduced their inventories at the end of the month, leading to a noticeable increase in daily steel production in the final days of January. Excluding this effect, daily steel production is estimated to have increased 2.7% on a monthly basis.

Inventory levels showed a declining trend. By the end of January, total steel stocks at major enterprises stood at 14.71 million tons. This represents a decrease of 1.42 million tons, or 8.8%, from the previous month, an increase of 570 thousand tons, or 4.0%, compared with the beginning of the year, and a decrease of 640 thousand tons, or 4.2%, compared with the same period last year.