In the January-February period this year, China’s rebar and wire rod production amounted to 33.958 million mt and 21.517 million mt, down 2.2 percent and 4.9 percent year on year, respectively, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics.
Though overall crude steel production in the given period increased by 3.1 percent year on year, Chinese rebar and wire rod producers were forced to cut output as demand in the local market fell significantly in February due to the spread of the virus. In the March-April period, production of longs is expected to improve in China.