Steel Market Production Cuts – Russian steel company Mechel has halted the 1.1 mtpy DEMZ longs facility due to a “local scrap shortage” and could remain offline until April.

Steel Market Production Increases – Chinese steelmaker Chonggang plans to commission a 1.5 mtpy longs plant in February 2013, bringing total capacity to 8 mtpy.

Steel Market Production Increases – Egyptian steel company IIC plans to start up the upgraded 250,000 tpy Alexandria wire-rod and bar mill by the end of the year.

Steel Market Production Increases – Chinese steelmaker MCC has completed a 1.2 mtpy pre-painted galvanized coil facility in Shandong that contains a 1.2 mtpy CRC mill, two 600,000 tpy pickling lines, two hot-dipped galvanizing lines, a continuous annealing line, and two color-coating lines.

Sources: Steel Business Briefing, American Metal Market