The price of the Brazilian high-grade iron ore, 65 percent iron contents, is $116/mt today against $115/mt on March 11, CFR China.
According to sources, the price remains oscillating in a narrow range, negatively affected by the problems faced by the Chinese real estate market, while sustained by the demand that reflects the stronger margins now achieved by the steel industry.
The export price of blast furnace grade pellets is now $134/mt, unchanged from March 11, 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 7.7 percent against 8.6 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 $90/mt for the iron ore and $108/mt for the pellets against respectively $93/mt and $111/mt previously, ex-works, no taxes included. Such prices were negatively affected by higher Brazil-China freight rates, as the domestic price is based on FOB conditions, having CFR China as the reference.
In February, Brazil exported 24.263 million mt of iron ore (pellets excluded) and 1.145 million mt of pellets. Initial data indicates a rise in volumes for March.