A FERTILIZER maker and a pig iron producer have flagged bond payment difficulties, adding to signs of stress in China’s corporate note market after at least six defaults this year.

    Jiangsu Luling Runfa Chemical Co., based in the eastern city of Suqian, is asking its guarantor to repay 53.1 million yuan (US$8.3 million) in bond principal and interest due Dec. 4, according to a statement posted on Chinamoney’s website.

    Sichuan Shengda Group Ltd., based in the southwestern province of Sichuan, is uncertain it can repay notes due in 2018 that holders can opt to sell back early Dec. 5, it said in a statement on the same website.

    More firms in China are struggling to repay bonds amid the worst economic slowdown in a quarter century. China Shanshui Cement Group Ltd. this month became at least the sixth firm in 2015 to default on yuan-denominated domestic notes.

    State-owned steel trader Sinosteel Co. postponed a bond payment for a second time two weeks ago.

    The guarantor of Jiangsu Luling Runfa’s bond is Jiangsu Re-Guarantee Co. The bonds are collective notes, which are typically issued by several small and medium-sized companies that don’t have the ability to sell securities on their own.

    Bank of Tianjin, the trustee manager on Sichuan Shengda’s notes, will hold a bondholder meeting Dec. 3. (SD-Agencies)