As of March 25, inventory of iron ore at 25 major Chinese ports amounted to 105.86 million mt, indicating an increase of 0.17 million mt or 0.2 percent week on week, as announced by China's Xinhua News Agency.
As of the same date, the Xinhua-China Iron Ore Price Index for imported iron ore with 62 percent iron content was at 109 points, unchanged week on week. Meanwhile, the Xinhua-China Iron Ore Price Index for imported iron ore with 58 percent iron content was at 97 points on the date in question, down two points week on week.
Iron ore market activity was low in the week in question. Domestic steel mills have been seeking to restrict their costs, and so it is difficult for import ore prices to move up. Demand in the steel markets is still on the slack side, though some improvements have been witnessed in demand from end-users. A wait-and-see mood prevails in the steel and iron ore markets at the current time.