China: Stainless steel production rises 2.2% in Jan-May'26

• Total production reaches 16.84 mnt in Jan-May
  
  
• 200 and 300 series lead gains in production
  
  

China's stainless steel production increased in January-May'26 as compared to last year. Production of 200 and 300 series increased while 400 series dropped. Total production stood at 16.84 mnt, up by 2.2% as compared to 16.48 mnt last year.

On a monthly basis, production stood at 3.9 mnt in May, up by 3.7% from 3.8 mnt in April 2026.

By grade, 300 series production stood at 8.84 up by 1.4% as compared to 8.72 mnt. 200 series production stood at 4.91 mnt, up by 5.8% from last year's 4.64 mnt. while 400 series production recorded a drop of 1% at 3.09 mnt from last year's 3.12 mnt.

In May'26, 300 series recorded a strong increase in production by 11% at 2.10 mnt from last month's 1.89 mnt . While 200 and 400 series production declined on monthly basis by 3.4% and 4.3% respectively.