During the week ending April 19, the Chinese iron ore market has on the whole continued its stable price trend. Prices of imported iron ore supplies and of most locally produced ore have maintained a sideways trend, though some slight decreases have been seen in some prices of domestic ore. Meanwhile, market activity has decreased a little.
At present, Indian fine ores of 63.5 percent grade are offered at $168.3/mt at Qingdao port, while Australian lump ores of 62 percent or 63 percent grade are priced at $173/mt. Meanwhile, quotations of 66 percent iron ore concentrate in Tangshan are at $147.6/mt, and the prices of the same product stand at the level of $128.6/mt in Beipiao, both excluding VAT. Prices of domestic and imported iron ore in China can be viewed in the SteelOrbis price reports section.
Prices of imported and domestic iron ore in China have generally remained stable, except in Hebei Province where prices of locally produced iron ore have declined slightly. Although the domestic finished steel market has started to indicate some fluctuations, it is thought that the iron ore market in China will not see any big changes in the coming period.