The municipal government of Tangshan in China’s Hebei Province has announced that, due to anticipated increases in air pollution, it has decided to implement strict emergency response measures (level Ⅱ) effective from 18:00 on January 15. The termination of the measures will be announced separately.
Due to the strict emergency response measures, steelmakers in Tangshan will gradually halt production as the Chinese New Year holiday approaches. Market players said, though the measures will likely terminate on January 19 due to improved air conditions, some steelmakers are unlikely to resume production as they will leave for the holiday. Accordingly, it is expected that crude steel output in Tangshan will decrease.