The price of the Brazilian 65 percent Fe iron ore is $117 per metric ton (mt), CFR China, unchanged following the recent end of the holiday period in China.
Such stability reflects, in the view of analysts, optimism among players due to the small increase of the operation pace of Chinese blast furnaces, reaching 87.19 percent, against 86.96 percent previously, with a daily pig iron production increasing slightly to 2.393 million mt.
Nonetheless, ongoing negotiations remain moving at slow pace, according to sources.
Blast furnace grade pellets continue to be exported at a steady price of $135/mt, showing the same premium over same-grade sinter feed fines.
The premium for Brazilian high-grade ore containing 65 percent iron relative to Australian ore with 62 percent iron has increased to 9.9 percent from the previous 8.9 percent. The trend reflects steel producers' continued interest in the superior performance of premium ores in blast furnace operations, although such premiums, the highest in four months, remains low in term of historical figures.
In the Brazilian domestic market, reference prices are now $90/mt for the ore and $108/mt for pellets, against respectively $94/mt and $112/mt previously, ex-works, no taxes included. The difference reflects higher Brazil-China freight rates, as the Brazilian domestic price is based on FOB conditions, having CFR China as the reference.