China’s Hebei province, the largest producer of steel, showed a flat growth in the January-February, 2024 period while three of the country’s top seven crude steel-producing provinces recorded a y-o-y drop in this period. Total volumes dipped a marginal 0.4% in these two months to 168 million tonnes (mnt) against 169 mnt seen in the same two months in 2023. Hebei, the largest crude steel producing region, saw output remaining flat over January-February, 2024 at 36 million tonnes (mnt). Jiangsu, the second-largest producer, saw volumes rising 7% y-o-y to 21 mnt (19 mnt). However, Shangdong (-3%), Liaoning (-8%), and Shanxi (-6%), with a total production of 33 mnt, saw declines. Production at Guanxi and Guangdong rose 17% and 10% respectively but their combined contribution was a nominal 13 mnt.
