SHANGHAI — China’s daily crude steel output for the final 10 days of September stood at 1.843 million tonnes, down 0.7 percent from 1.857 million tonnes in the previous 10-day period, according to the China Iron and Steel Association (Cisa).

Output from Cisa’s members dropped 0.9 percent to 1.509 million tonnes per day in the same comparison.

Crude steel production averaged 1.865 million tonnes per day for the month, down 3 percent from August.

"The actual output for late September may be higher, since the production of private steel mills could rebound beyond Cisa’s estimation, which is based on major mills," a trader in Shanghai told AMM sister publication Steel First.

"Private mills, which are more flexible in operations, ran at higher production utility rates after steel prices rebounded in September," an industry analyst in Beijing added.

Hot-rolled coil prices in eastern China stood at 3,600 to 3,650 yuan ($573 to $581) per tonne at the end of the month, up 375 yuan ($59) from the beginning of September.