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Steel Surges to Three-Month High as China Boosts Checks on Mills

Steel Surges to Three-Month High as China Boosts Mill Checks

(Bloomberg) -- Steel futures in China climbed to the highest level in three months as the world’s biggest producer broadens environmental checks on industrial facilities and inventories extend their decline.

Reinforcement bar on the Shanghai Futures Exchange advanced as much as 2.5 percent, the biggest intraday gain in five weeks, to 3,869 yuan ($605) a metric ton. Futures are up over 15 percent from a nine-month low at the end of March.

China is pressing ahead with a new campaign to force manufacturing to clean up operations and improve the environment. The government will be conducting inspections, each lasting a month, on industrial plants in 10 provinces, according to a statement on May 25. Checks have started in Guangzhou, Yunnan and Inner Mongolia. The nation makes half the world’s steel.

Steel Surges to Three-Month High as China Boosts Checks on Mills

While demand typically slows in June because of high temperatures and frequent downpours, shrinking inventories and the inspections will continue to push up prices, Huatai Futures Co. analyst Sarah Zhao said by phone.

“Environmental checks are only going to get stricter going forward,” Zhao said from Shenzhen. “There’s also more uncertainty in the duration of production curbs, and the government may choose to spring new policies.”

World’s largest steelmaker may impose fresh curbs this winter

Supply may decline going forward as mills conduct maintenance for environmental reasons, said CRU Group steel analyst Alex Ji in Hong Kong. Rebar inventories in China have been declining steadily since March, and were at 5.3 million tons last week, the lowest since February.

Rebar futures closed 0.8 percent higher at 3,807 yuan on Thursday.

  • Iron ore fell 0.3 percent to end at 469 yuan a ton in Dalian
  • Hot-rolled coil added 0.6 percent to 3,943 yuan a ton in Shanghai

To contact the reporter on this story: Krystal Chia in Singapore at kchia48@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jason Rogers at jrogers73@bloomberg.net, James Poole

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