As of June 22, inventory of iron ore at 33 major Chinese ports amounted to 78.83 million mt, down 1.41 million mt or 1.56 percent compared to the inventory level recorded on June 15, as announced by China's Xinhua News Agency on June 23.
As of the same date, the Xinhua-China Iron Ore Price Index for imported iron ore with 62 percent iron content was at 61 points, down four points week on week. Meanwhile, the Xinhua-China Iron Ore Price Index for imported iron ore with 58 percent iron content was at 55 points on the date in question, also decreasing by four points week on week.
During the given week, imported iron ore prices in China have decreased amid the softness of domestic finished steel prices and declines in iron ore futures prices at Dalian Commodities Exchange. Chinese steelmakers have mostly been cautious about purchasing iron ore, resulting in slack transaction activity in the given week.
It is thought that finished steel prices in China will likely bottom up in the short term, which would provide a certain degree of support for prices of imported iron ore. However, steelmakers expect ore prices to decline further. It is thought that imported iron ore prices will fluctuate on a slightly soft trend in the coming week.