The price of the Brazilian high-grade iron ore, 65 percent iron contents, is $121/mt today, against $118/mt on February 5, CFR China.
From the point of view of analysts, he optimism of players with the possibility of a recovery of the iron ore demand by China, coupled with indications of reduced shipments of the ore by the main suppliers to China, have outpaced concerns about the last import tariff threats by the US.
The export price of blast furnace grade pellets is now $139/mt against $137/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 7.9 percent, the lowest in five months, against 8.4 percent previously, still 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 $101/mt for the iron ore and $119/mt for the pellets against respectively $98/mt and $117/mt previously, ex-works, no taxes included.
In January, Brazil exported 28.929 million mt of iron ore (pellets excluded) and 2.060 million mt of pellets against respectively 28.300 mt and 2.404 million mt in December 2024.
The main destinations of the iron ore were Asia (24.677 million mt, of which 21.578 million mt to China), the Middle East (2.367 million mt), Europe (1.202 million mt), South America (486,500 mt), and Africa (177,600 mt).
The main destinations of the pellets were South Korea (629,100 mt), Egypt (551,100 mt), Japan (222,400 mt), China (168,000 mt), and Argentina (166,900 mt).