China daily steel output up slightly in early Sept - CISA

China's daily crude steel output grew by a modest 0.9 percent in the first ten days of September, overturning market expectations for slower steel production after output cuts China produced 1.697 million tonnes of crude steel on a daily basis in the 10-day period, marginally higher than 1.682 million tonnes in late August, according to the latest China Iron & Steel Association data seen by Reuters.
The unexpected rise comes after a large number of steel mills in the country's biggest steel-producing province Hebei in northern China were urged to reduce production to meet year-end energy saving targets.
"It is hard to understand why the country's steel production figures inched higher in early September as some provinces have kicked off a round of production and electricity cuts," said Hu Yanping, an analyst at Custeel.com.
China is striving to meet a deadline to improve energy efficiency in the five years to 2010.
Data also showed that CISA members, usually known as 78 bigger steel mills, produced 1.372 million tonnes of crude steel in the first ten days of September, 1.9 percent less than the last eleven days of August.
Crude steel production is expected to average at a daily 1.592-1.674 million tonnes for the rest of the year, with full-year production estimated at 620-630 million tonnes.

Source: Reuters