The price of Brazilian high-grade iron ore, 65 percent iron contents, is $145/mt today, against $147/mt on December 13, CFR China conditions.
According to sources, iron ore prices remain negatively affected by the announcement of disappointing incentive measures by Chinese authorities, coupled with data on civil construction investments during the first 11 months of the year, declining by 9.4 percent on yearly basis. Such investments have consistently declined during the last five months to November.
The Brazilian high-grade product has now a premium of 3.4 percent in relation to the 62 percent Australian iron ore, against 3.3 percent previously.
The export price of blast furnace grade pellets is now estimated at $163/mt, CFR China, against $165/mt previously, reflecting a stable premium ascribed to the product in relation to the equivalent sinter feed fines.
In the Brazilian domestic market, the prices are estimated at $114/mt for the iron ore and $131/mt for the pellets, against $116/mt and $133/mt previously, ex-works, no taxes included.
Preliminary figures from customs remain pointing to a combined volume of iron ore and pellets, being exported from Brazil in December, lower than the 31.60 million mt exported in November.
