Steel inventories at China's key surveyed mills rose 5.6% in the first ten days of August from the preceding ten-day period, data from the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) showed.

Inventories at key steel enterprises totaled 17.18 million tonnes during August 1-10, up 910,000 tonnes from the previous ten-day period. Compared with the start of the year, stocks increased 3.04 million tonnes, or 21.5%, while they rose 410,000 tonnes, or 2.4%, from the same period in July and 2.11 million tonnes, or 14.0%, from a year earlier.

By region, steel inventories rose across most of China's six major areas during the period, with only North China posting a decline.

Northeast saw inventories increase by 320,000 tonnes, or 19.6%, driven mainly by a 350,000-tonne rise in Liaoning province. East stocks grew 350,000 tonnes, or 6.5%, led by gains in Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanghai, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces.

Central-south China inventories climbed 210,000 tonnes, or 7.1%, with Henan, Hunan, Hubei and Guangxi all posting increases. Southwest China stocks rose 40,000 tonnes, or 4.5%, while Northwest China added 20,000 tonnes, or 2.2%.

North China was the only region to post a decline, with inventories falling 20,000 tonnes, or 0.5%, as decreases in Shanxi and Inner Mongolia outweighed gains in Hebei and Tianjin.