The price for Brazilian high-grade iron ore, with 65 percent iron content, is now $118/mt against $120/mt one week ago, CFR China.
The decline reflects uncertainties about the Chinese demand, amid control of the steel production in the north of the country.
The export price of blast furnace grade pellets is now $136/mt against $138/mt previously, CFR China, reflecting a stable premium relative to equivalent sinter feed fines.
The premium for Brazilian high-grade ore, containing 65 percent iron, relative to Australian 62 percent iron ore, based on their iron units, declined to 12.3 percent from 13.1 percent previously, still maintaining a high premium in historical terms, reflecting the interest of steel producers for the high performance of premium products when processed in blast furnaces.
In the Brazilian domestic market, reference prices are now $90/mt for the ore and $108/mt for pellets, down from $92/mt and $111/mt, respectively, ex-works and excluding taxes.
Based on figures of the first three weeks of August, the combined iron ore and pellets exports from Brazil are expected to decline along the month from the 41.04 million mt exported in July.