According to the CISA, 70 medium and large mills had a profit of 6.7 billion yuan in October, up 9 percent from 6.15 billion yuan in September. 14 were losing money, accounting for 20 percent of the total, 5.71 percentage points higher than the previous month.

In the first ten months, they made a combined profit of 36.7 billion yuan, down 53.7 percent year-on-year. In the first nine months, they had sales revenue of 1,555.37 billion yuan, down 24.39 percent; and a profit of 29.98 billion yuan, down 77.65 percent. 10 out of the 70 mills were at a loss.