Industry News

Iron ore prices fall as China's rising port inventory weighs

Views : 131
Update time : 2021-12-10 19:44:21

Iron ore for May delivery on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange ended the morning trade 1.5% lower at 634.50 yuan ($99.68) a tonne.

The benchmark contract, however, was on course for its third straight weekly rise, supported earlier this week by optimism about China's stimulus measures to bolster its economic growth and policy support for its debt-saddled property developers.

Iron ore's most-active January contract on the Singapore Exchange slipped 0.3% to $108.85 a tonne.

"The iron ore port inventories build through recent weeks is a bearish signal and they are expected to continue to lift over the next 2-3 months as pig iron production is not likely to pick up until after the (Beijing) Winter Olympics," Westpac senior economist Justin Smirk said in a note.

Imported iron ore stocked at Chinese ports reached 155.4 million tonnes last week, the highest since July 2018, according to SteelHome consultancy data.

While falling steel inventories in China may signal an improvement in downstream demand, Smirk said current levels were still at a five-year high, suggesting "it has a long way to go before it signals a tight market".

Iron ore prices could hit $75 a tonne by end-2022, he said, as tight steel production controls to curb emissions in China are likely to remain in place.

Related News
Read More >>
Vale Q1 Revenues & Earnings Miss Estimates on Lower Iron Ore Prices Vale Q1 Revenues & Earnings Miss Estimates on Lower Iron Ore Prices
Apr .29.2025
Vale Q1 Revenues & Earnings Miss Estimates on Lower Iron Ore Prices
Brazil's steel imports may break Mar record in Apr Brazil's steel imports may break Mar record in Apr
Apr .29.2025
Brazil's steel imports may break Mar record in Apr
Nickel prices surge as LME inventories decline & US-China trade tensions ease Nickel prices surge as LME inventories decline & US-China trade tensions ease
Apr .29.2025
Nickel prices surge as LME inventories decline & US-China trade tensions ease
Hydro & Wilson collaborate on wind-powered shipping for greener aluminum logistics Hydro & Wilson collaborate on wind-powered shipping for greener aluminum logistics
Apr .29.2025
Hydro & Wilson collaborate on wind-powered shipping for greener aluminum logistics