At present, Indian fine ores of 63.5 percent grade are offered at $151.1/mt at Qingdao port. Meanwhile, quotations of 66 percent iron ore concentrate in Tangshan stand at $135/mt, and prices of the same material are at $117.4/mt in Beipiao, both excluding VAT. Prices of domestic production and imported iron ore in China can be viewed in the SteelOrbis price reports section.
Currently, supplies of lower Fe-content fine ores at Chinese ports are sufficient, dragging down the prices of the fine ores in question. Meanwhile, even though supplies of high Fe-content fine and lump ores are on the insufficient side, it is difficult for prices of these materials to move up.
In addition, iron ore traders lack confidence in the prospects for the iron ore market in the coming period. It is thought that iron ore prices in China may move sideways in the coming week in the absence of upward movement of steel prices.