Steel Market Production Cuts – Chinese producer Anshan Steel will start 10-day maintenance on its CRC line and 15-day maintenance on its HRC line which will reduce output by 20,000 and 150,000 tonnes respectively.

Steel Market Production Cuts – A number of plate producers in east and north China have reportedly already begun their half-year maintenance shutdowns due to plate prices that are below cost and power shortages from a hot summer.

Steel Market Production Cuts – Italian producer Ilva temporarily halted production at its 3.6 million tpy capacity No 1 hot strip mill and at its electro-zinc line in Taranto, Italy starting yesterday in an effort to reduce output by 30% compared with 1Q12.

Steel Market Production Increases – Construction of Iranian producer Arfa’s new 800,000 tpy meltshop is reportedly almost 90% complete and will be put into operation within one full year.