During the week ending March 22, prices of import iron ore for China have indicated an overall downward trend, while transaction activity for import iron ore in the past week has been at low levels. At the same time, traders’ offers of domestic production iron ore have remained stable in Liaoning Province, while slight declines have been seen in Tangshan, with overall transaction activity for domestic production ore at low levels.
At present, Indian fine ores of 63.5 percent grade are offered at $70.9/mt at Qingdao port. Meanwhile, quotations of 66 percent iron ore concentrate in Tangshan stand at $92/mt and prices of the same material are at $97/mt in Beipiao, Liaoning, both including VAT. Prices of domestic production and imported iron ore in China are presented in the tables below
During the given week, the import iron ore market has been negatively affected by weak demand from steelmakers as blast furnaces in northern and central China have not resumed their normal production rates. Following the declines in prices seen over the past two weeks, some traders are now unwilling to sell at lower prices, which will provide some support for import iron ore prices in the coming period. It is thought that import iron ore prices will likely move sideways in the week ahead.
Imported iron ore prices
Product Name |
Name of Port |
Iron Content % |
Place of origin |
Truck loaded price (RMB/mt) |
Price($/mt) |
Weekly Change (RMB/mt) |
Newman iron ore lump |
Qingdao |
63/63.5 |
Australia |
610-620 |
96-98 |
↓25 |
Brazil fines |
63,5 |
Brazil |
419-429 |
66-68 |
↓20 |
|
Yandi fines |
58 / 59 |
Australia |
410-420 |
65-66 |
↓22 |
|
PB fines |
61,5 |
Australia |
460-470 |
73-74 |
↓30 |
|
PB iron ore lump |
62 |
Australia |
595-605 |
94-96 |
↓25 |
|
Indian fine ore |
63,5 |
India |
443-453 |
70-72 |
↓20 |
|
Indian fine ore |
63 |
India |
433-443 |
68-70 |
↓20 |
|
Indian fine ore |
62 |
India |
413-423 |
65-67 |
↓20 |
|
Indian fine ore |
61 |
India |
393-403 |
62-64 |
↓20 |
|
Indian fine ore |
59 |
India |
296-306 |
47-48 |
↓15 |
The prices are deal prices in local market.
17 percent VAT is included in all prices and all prices are ex-warehouse.
Domestic iron ore prices in local Chinese market
Product |
Spec. |
Place of Origin |
Market price excluding tax (RMB/mt) |
Price ($/mt) |
Weekly Change (RMB/mt) |
Domestic iron ore concentrate |
damp base (iron content: 66%) |
Tangshan |
495 |
78 |
↓25 |
damp base (iron content: 66%) |
Beipiao |
520 |
82 |
0 |
17 percent VAT is excluded in all prices and all prices are ex-warehouse.
$1 = RMB 6.33