The price of the Brazilian high-grade iron ore, 65 percent iron contents, is $115/mt on March 11, against $114/mt on March 5, CFR China.
The price of the iron ore in China is positively affected by the increased demand from the restart of steel plants in the northern region of the country, although concerns regarding tensions in the global markets generated by the tariffs adopted by the US authorities, remain playing a negative role.
The export price of blast furnace grade pellets is now $134/mt against $132/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 stable at 8.6 percent, 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 $93/mt for the iron ore and $111/mt for the pellets against respectively $91/mt and $109/mt previously, ex-works, no taxes included.
In February, Brazil exported 24.263 million mt of iron ore (pellets excluded) and 1.145 million mt of pellets against respectively 28.929 million mt and 2.060 million mt in January.
The main destinations of the iron ore in February were Asia (20.171 million mt, of which 17.961 million mt to China), Europe (2.157 million mt), the Middle East (1.233 million mt), and South America (524,400 mt).
The main destinations of the pellets were Libia (317,200 mt), the UAE (196,400 mt), the US (159,500 mt), and Malaysia (157,800 mt), while small volumes were shipped to Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy, and South Korea.