China's average daily crude Steel output declined to an 11-month low in the last ten days of December, the latest official data showed.<br /> <br /> During the period of December 21-30, China produced an average of 1.961 million tonnes of crude steel each day, the lowest since early February last year, decreasing 2.6% from the previous ten days and sliding below 2 million tonnes for the first time in over ten months, according to the China Iron &amp; Steel Association (CISA).<br /> <br /> CISA members, including over 80 large steel mills that account for about 80% of China's total steel output, produced 1.638 million tonnes of crude steel on an average daily basis during the same period, down 3.2% from the preceding ten days.<br /> <br /> With strengthening environmental measures and tight credit, many Chinese steelmakers slashed output and some even suspended operations, as persisting weak demand continuously dragged down steel prices.<br /> <br /> <p> As of December 31, the CISA's members held 12.87 million tonnes of steel products in stock, down 6.9% from ten days ago and 0.6% month on month. </p> <p style="text-align:center;"> <img src="/upfiles/news/image/20140118/20140118170756_5803.jpg" alt="" /> </p>