Regarding the rumored completion of the annual iron ore contract talks, an official from the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) has clearly stated that the final result has not yet been obtained. Baosteel chairman Xu Lejiang also said the negotiation is still ongoing. Once the result is announced, they will publish it on their website as soon as possible, he said.
Meanwhile, the iron ore suppliers have also denied the conclusion of the iron ore talks. Nick Cobban, Rio Tinto's spokesman in London, stated that the talks are still continuing. Meanwhile, BHP Billiton's spokesperson declined to comment on the report published regarding the conclusion of the talks; however, she said they were still in progress and, once completed, the company would publish the result.