According to a source familiar with the matter, China's steel production by item in March 2011 had a crop of record high for many items with double digit increase such as welded pipes, and middle size of shapes and sections which increased by 76.7% and 41.1% respectively from the previous month. The China Iron & Steel Association has gathered statistics on March 2011 steel production by item.

Steel production in March 2011 hit a record high of 76,022,000 tonnes, up 19.7% from the previous month, and up by 13.7% from the same month last year. Steel items like bars and sections seemed to be produced by the small or medium size mills were a record high of 34,622,000 tonnes, up 19.7% from the month before. And also, flat rolled products recorded a new high of 34,478,000 tonnes, up 20.4% ditto.

By item, as for bars and sections, production of bigger size of shapes and sections were 942,000 tonnes, up 9.5% from the month before, smaller or middle size of shapes and sections 4,321, up 41.1% ditto, bars 6,252, up 5.7%, and wire rods 10,308, up 15.2% which crossed the 10 million tonnes level per month first time ever.

Thicker plates (over 50mm) were 558,000 tonnes, up 17.0% which also hit the highest crossing the 500,000 tonnes level for the first time. Both thick plates and medium thick plates also recorded a high of 2,149,000 tonnes, up 10.9% from the month before and 3,832, up 11.3% ditto respectively.

As for steel sheets coils, hot rolled steel sheets showed a record high of 699,000 tonnes, up 12.7% form the previous month, and hot rolled coils (medium thickness) also recorded a high of 9,276, up 21.8% ditto. And hot rolled coils (thinner) were 4,077,000 tonnes, up 27.9% from the month before which crossed the 4 million tonnes level for the first time. Hot rolled strips were 4,493,000 tonnes, up 14.5% from the previous month.

Cold rolled sheets showed 1,961,000 tonnes, up 12.8% from the previous month. Cold rolled coils (thinner) were 2,883,000 tonnes, up 15.0% from the month before, and cold rolled strips 824, drastically up 44.8% both of which showed a record high.

Electrical steel sheets coils were 525,000 tonnes, up 14.6% from the month before, and zinc coated steel sheets coils including tinplates 2,680, up 22.3% ditto both of which also showed a record high. Coated steel sheets were 521, up 24.0% ditto. As for steel pipes tubes, seamless steel pipes were 2,139,000 tonnes, up 21.5% from the month before and welded pipes 3,248, rapidly up 767,000 tonnes ditto.

(Sourced from TEX Report Limited)