The price of the Brazilian high-grade iron ore, 65 percent iron contents, is $112/mt against $115/mt on March 31, CFR China.
According to analysts, the price was dragged by the tariffs war between the US and China, the largest consumer of the product, which retaliated with a 34 percent import tariff all imports from the US, following the imposition of a 34 percent import tariff by the US on almost all Chinese products.
Such dispute is expected to impact iron ore prices in the short term.
The export price of blast furnace grade pellets is now $130/mt against $134/mt previously, CFR China, reflecting a stable premium ascribed to the product in relation to the equivalent sinter feed fines.
The premium of the Brazilian high-grade ore, in relation to the Australian 62 percent iron ore, when considering their iron units, is now 7.4 percent against 7.2 percent previously, reflecting the interest, at such price level, by the integrated steel producers for the higher productivity and lower emissions of the premium ores when processed in blast furnaces.
In the Brazilian domestic market, the reference prices are $86/mt for the iron ore and $104/mt for the pellets against respectively $88/mt and $106/mt previously, ex-works, no taxes included.
In March, Brazil exported 26.237 million mt of iron ore (pellets excluded), and 2.162 million mt of pellets against respectively 24.263 million mt and 1.145 million mt in February.
The iron ore was destined in March to Asia (21.082 million mt, of which 19.378 million mt to China), the Middle East (2.530 million mt), Europe (1.705 million mt), South America (408,800 mt), Africa (385,000 mt), and Mexico (125,700 mt).
The pellets were shipped to Asia (611,500 mt), the US (514,400 mt), Europe (331,000 mt), Trinidad and Tobago (252,200 mt), Qatar (165,000 mt), Libya (154,200 mt), and Argentina (134,800 mt).