The China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) has stated that last year 22 new blast furnaces totaling 28,000 cubic meters began production in China, compared to the 38 new blast furnaces which entered production in the country in 2012. The annual output capacity of the 22 blast furnaces totals 25 million mt, down 50 percent compared to the new output capacity in the previous year.
Of the 22 new blast furnaces which began production in China in 2013, six are located in eastern China, four each are located in the northern and northwestern regions, three each are located in the southwestern and central regions of the country, while the remaining two are located in the northeastern region. 15 of the blast furnaces were built by steel mills in the private sector, while the other seven were built by state-owned steel mills.
In addition, in 2013 in China five blast furnaces which had undergone overhaul work and technology upgrades were put back into production. These blast furnaces include a blast furnace of Jinan Steel, blast furnace No. 1 of Sichan Dazhou Steel, blast furnaces Nos. 1 and 2 of Jiuquan Steel and blast furnace No. 10 of Anshan Steel.