The steel industry was affected by the virus in the first quarter of 2020.

In March, Ningxia's industrial power generation was 15.25 billion kwh, an increase of 10.7% year on year.

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) ramped up iron ore production and dispatch to 29.26 million tonne (mt) and 29.43 mt in 2019-20.

"More closures would be necessary, as demand shows little sign of recovery," said one US mining firm.

Work on four projects along the North-South railway will begin in May and June, according to the Transport Engineering Construction and Quality Management Bureau.

Those products enjoyed high export revenues in 2019.

Indian state-run steel maker RINL has shut down two blast furnaces at its Visakhapatnam plant.

Indonesia’s manufacturing industry kept positive growth at 10.11 percent in the first quarter of 2020 amid the pressure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.