Shanxi's raw coal output accounted for about 29 percent of the country's total in the first quarter.

All these factors will support a surge in steel consumption in the third and fourth quarters of this year, the VSA added.

In April, the domestic ferrosilicon market continued its weak trend, with Futures fluctuating and falling below a new low for the year.

A Weekly Review of Manganese Alloy Market （4.23-4.28）

Philippine nickel ore producer Global Ferronickel's (FNI) subsidiary Platinum Group Metals (PGMC) has shipped to China its first batch of nickel ore for this year's mining season.

China's steel sector saw output expansion in the first quarter of the year, industrial data showed.

The institute has developed the 0.08mm ultra-thin grain-oriented silicon steel strip and iron core in collaboration with several other companies and institutes including China Iron & Steel Research Institute Group.

The 2306 ferrosilicon contract price on ZCE closed at 7310 yuan per ton on April 27.