During the week ending December 15, prices of import iron ore for China have indicated a stable trend, while transaction activity for import iron ore has been at low-to-medium levels. At the same time, traders’ offers of domestic production iron ore in Tangshan and Liaoning Province have remained stable, with transaction activity for domestic production ore at medium levels.
At present, Indian fine ores of 63.5 percent grade are offered at $76.9/mt at Qingdao port. Meanwhile, quotations of 66 percent iron ore concentrate in Tangshan stand at $76.9/mt and prices of the same material are at $63.9/mt in Beipiao, Liaoning, both excluding VAT. Prices of domestic production and imported iron ore in China are presented in the following table.
During the given week, import iron ore shipment arriving at China’s main ports have increased, exerting negative pressure on iron ore prices. Accordingly, iron ore prices have indicated a stable trend despite the significant increases in finished steel prices. It is thought that iron ore prices in the Chinese market will likely continue to move sideways in the coming week.
Domestic iron ore prices in local Chinese market
| Product | Spec. | Place of Origin | Market price excluding tax (RMB/mt) | Price ($/mt) | Weekly Change (RMB/mt) |
| Domestic iron ore concentrate | damp base (iron content: 66%) | Tangshan | 530 | 76 | 0 |
| damp base (iron content: 66%) | Beipiao | 440 | 63 | 0 |
17 percent VAT is excluded in all prices and all prices are ex-warehouse.
Imported iron ore prices in local Chinese market
| Product Name | Name of Port | Iron Content % | Place of origin | Truck loaded price (RMB/mt) | Price($/mt) | Weekly Change (RMB/mt) |
| Newman iron ore lump | Qingdao | 63/63.5 | Australia | 675-685 | 97-99 | 0 |
| Brazil fines | 63,5 | Brazil | 635-645 | 91-93 | 0 | |
| Yandi fines | 58 / 59 | Australia | 545-555 | 78-80 | 0 | |
| PB fines | 61.5 | Australia | 635-645 | 91-93 | 0 | |
| PB iron ore lump | 62 | Australia | 665-675 | 96-97 | 0 | |
| Indian fine ore | 63.5 | India | 525-535 | 75-77 | 0 | |
| Indian fine ore | 63 | India | 515-525 | 74-75 | 0 | |
| Indian fine ore | 62 | India | 495-505 | 71-72 | 0 | |
| Indian fine ore | 61 | India | 475-485 | 68-70 | 0 | |
| Indian fine ore | 59 | India | 435-445 | 62-64 | 0 |
The prices are deal prices in local market.
17 percent VAT is included in all prices and all prices are ex-warehouse.
$1 = RMB 6.88