Posted on 28 Feb 2023
Steelmakers in Tangshan, China's top steelmaking hub in North China's Hebei province, have curtailed their sintering operations by 30-50% to tackle deteriorated air quality in the region, according to Mysteel. The curbs took effect from 18:00 on February 25 and were in response to local authorities' level II emergency warning on heavy air pollution.
Local mills that are rated "A" regarding their environmental protection performance can take emergency curbs independently, and those on a "white list" of environmental supervision can be exempted from the production curbs.
The date on which the emergency curbs will be lifted is still pending though, as it generally depends on when the air quality improves, Mysteel Global understands.
Air quality forecast posted on the website of China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment on February 27 indicates that Tangshan will experience light to moderate atmospheric pollution in the two days, Mysteel Global notes.
Mysteel's survey on 10 major steel mills in Tangshan showed that by February 22 their sintering capacity utilization rate was 92.28%, producing 339,000 tonne/day of sintered ore on average.
Stocks of sintering fines at the sampled mills were sufficient for about four days of consumption, and the volume can last for 7-12 days of usage if mills' sintering capacity utilization rate dropped to 50-70%, Mysteel estimated.
Some market insiders related the curbs to the "Two Sessions', China's top annual economic and political meetings to be held in Beijing starting on March 4 and 5. Generally, authorities in the capital's surrounding provinces will impose temporary curbs on local mills' operations of blast furnaces and sintering machines to ensure good air quality during the meetings, Mysteel Global noted.
Just a few days ago, steelmakers in Hebei's Handan were also asked to limit their sintering operations by 50% during February 17-20, as reported.
Source:Mysteel Global
