Blue Skies in Beijing for Parade Mean Steel Mills Face Curbs

Steel output in China will be disrupted next month and September as mills around Beijing are ordered to curb production to ensure clean air and blue skies for a parade to mark World War II and a sports event, hurting iron-ore demand.

As much as 6 million metric tons may be cut, more than was lost last year when similar curbs were used for a global summit, according to Xu Xiangchun, chief analyst at Mysteel Research, citing talks with policy makers and mills. The government plans measures to ensure the air quality, according to an official at the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, who declined to give her name, in line with local practice.