China began to carry out winter steel production cuts a month earlier

In China's largest steel city, Tangshan, factories were ordered to cut production a month earlier than expected to meet tough air quality targets in 2017, according to a notice issued by the municipal government.

The central government announced in August that 28 cities in and around Hebei will be forced to cut PM2.5 pollutant emissions by at least 15 percent during the winter months to meet politically important air quality targets for the region.

Steel mills in Tangshan, located in the heavily polluted Hebei province, are expected to cut their sintering-based steel output by 50 percent from Thursday, more than a month ahead of the original schedule. Sintering is a process in which iron ore is heated as a precursor to steel.

The notice said heavy smog was predicted to hit the city as early as Friday, forcing Tangshan to implement its "staged production" plans a month earlier. Planned restrictions on outdoor construction work are also starting to take effect.

In addition, Handan, another major steel city in Hebei that surrounds Beijing, issued a similar notice. Handan City officials told local steel mills to cut blast furnace production by 50 percent from October 1 to March.

Tangshan is the latest city to launch a toxic air campaign ahead of the previous November 15 deadline, when China's winter heating systems will turn on.

The city produces nearly 100 million tons of steel a year, more than the United States, and ranks among the 10 most fashionable cities in China. Last month, he vowed to close cement plants and restrict trucking activities during the heating season.

As part of a government "battle plan" to reduce air pollution in northern China this winter, Tangshan is ordering to cut emissions of hazardous particles known as particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) by 22 percent from October to March.