China's crude steel output softened in mid-November from the start of the month, due mainly to output curbs in northern China and mill maintenance work, but steel inventories dipped over the same period, particularly for rebar and wire rod, indicating downstream demand remained healthy, industry estimates showed Nov. 26.

The China Iron & Steel Association, or CISA, estimated the country's crude steel production over Nov. 10-20 averaged 2.9 million mt/day, down 1.84% from Nov. 1-10, but still 9.46% higher year on year.

CISA member steelworks accounted for 2.11 million mt/day of the total output over Nov. 10-20, down 1.53% from Nov. 1-10 but up 5.87% on year.

Stocks of five major steel products in 20 Chinese cities totaled 8.75 million mt Nov. 20, down 12.8% from Nov. 10, CISA data showed, accelerating an extended downtrend.

However, some sources said steel sales had softened in northern China in mid-November as colder weather started to crimp construction activity and therefore steel demand.

China produced 76.17 million mt of pig iron and 92.2 million mt of crude steel in October, up 9.4% and 12.7% on year, respectively, according to National Bureau of Statistics data. Over January-October, China's pig iron output rose 4.3% on year to741.7 million mt and crude steel output rose 5.5% to 873.93 million mt, the NBS data showed. 

-- Analyst Crystal Hao