Market sources had reported earlier today, February 1, that the government of China's Hebei Province was considering extending its winter season steel industry production cuts for a further two months until May 15. However, the Hebei provincial government has since denied that it has any such plans in a media statement, affirming that it will adhere strictly to the current schedule for production cuts in the steel industry, i.e. from November 15, 2017 to March 15, 2018.