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China's crude steel production falls for the third consecutive month due to clean-air restrictions and slow demand

China's crude steel production falls for the third consecutive month due to clean-air restrictions and slow demand

China's crude output of steel in August fell for the third consecutive month, as steelmakers in northern China curtailed operations in order to clean up the air in preparation for an early September military parade in Beijing and due to a seasonal drop in demand.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed on Monday that the world's biggest producer produced 77.37 millions metric tons of raw steel in August - the lowest level since December.

The volume in August was 2.9% less than the previous month, when it had been 79.66 millions tons.

Calculations based on data show that the average daily production in August was 2,57 million tonnes, down from 2,57 million tons in June.

The top steelmaking hub in China, Tangshan (east of Beijing), was required to limit operations in order to maintain good air quality in time for the military parade that will take place in the capital, on the 3rd of September, to commemorate World War II's end.

Data from the consultancy Mysteel revealed that hot metal production had fallen to its lowest level in over a month by late August.

Steel production for the first eight-month period of this year totaled 671.81 millions tons, which is a decrease of 2.8% on an annual basis.

(source: Reuters)