In 2012, 38 converters were put into operation in China, adding 45 million mt of new domestic crude steel production capacity, the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) announced on January 28.
32 of the converters were entirely new, with an aggregate tonnage capacity of 3,985 mt, while six of the converters were old converters which underwent upgrades, resulting in an aggregate added tonnage capacity of 245 mt. Thus, the overall aggregate added capacity due to the 38 converters was 4,230 mt.
According to the CISA, private sector steelmakers owned 17 of the 38 converters. In terms of the added tonnage capacity, the converters of the private sector steelmakers accounted for 1,765 mt, i.e., 41.7 percent of the total.