China is still playing low keys. Crude steel production in May increased only 1.6% from April. Increase in the production during the first 5 months of 2012 was 2.1% compared to the same period of 2011, while the same five-month comparison between 2011 and 2010 gave more than 10% increase. This 2.1% is an increase, but fairly small one, implying that China's overall economic growth is definitely slowing down and that the current slump in demand for ferroalloys will drag on for another while. Capacity utilization rate for ferrosilicon in major producing areas is more or less 50%.