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China's Baosteel says flat 2024 steel output might not end oversupply

China's biggest listed steelmaker, Baoshan Iron & & Steel Co, said on Thursday an expected control to keep China's steel output flat this year might not suffice to end the oversupply which has actually led to losses throughout the industry.

China, the world's largest steel manufacturer and customer, which introduced a cap on its unrefined steel output from 2021 as part of efforts to restrict carbon emissions and suppress expansion in supply, stated earlier this year it would continue managing output this year, without providing information up until now.

But Chinese steelmakers have struggled to make profits considering that the 2nd half of 2022 as decreasing need surpassed supply, partially due to an extended slump in home.

Steel demand from the construction sector stays a. drop ... infrastructure financial investment growth is expected to. narrow, Zou Jixin, chairman of Baosteel stated in its earnings. instruction, pointing to the new energy and manufacturing sectors. as the significant drivers of steel consumption.

Baosteel, which stated it made around 4.55 billion yuan. ($ 639 million) in the first 6 months of 2024, down 0.17% from. the same period in 2023, is a subsidiary of state-owned China. Baowu Steel Group, the world's biggest steelmaker.

Voluntary production cuts among steelmakers are an outcome of. deepening losses in the sector, but that does not mean the. industry's earnings will rise, Zou included, expecting a more. effective policy to phase out steel capability.

China's unrefined steel output fell in July for a 2nd month,. as numerous steelmakers performed upkeep work amidst a widening. of already unfavorable margins.

Only around 1% of Chinese steelmakers are running at a. earnings, data from consultancy Mysteel revealed.

Beijing paused its steel capability replacement programme from. Aug. 23 in a quote to restrict capability growth in the location.

Pressured by dwindling domestic demand, Chinese steelmakers. increased exports, with the total from January to July at 61.23. million loads, an increase of 21.8% on the year.

Baosteel targets exports of 6 million metric lots of steel. items in 2024 and more than 10 million tons by 2028.

(source: Reuters)