Iron ore prices in China have edged up in the past week amid some improvement in demand, but, as they have crossed the $105/mt CFR mark, further increases will be hard, market sources believe, especially due to a lack of support from end-user demand for steel in December.
On December 18, the price for ex-Australia iron ore fines with 62 percent Fe content stands at $107.1/mt CFR, increasing by $0.9/mt from the previous day and by $2.45/mt compared to last week. Fines with 65 percent Fe content are priced at $121.1/mt CFR, up by $2/mt compared to the previous day and $3.65/mt over the past week.
Corex’s Iron Ore Portside Index (61% Fe Qingdao) and Iron Ore Portside Index (61% Fe Caofeidian) stands at RMB 793/wmt and RMB 810/wmt, with the US$/dmt equivalents standing at $105.08 and $107.05.
In the given week, import iron ore prices in the Chinese market have increased amid the relatively low inventories at mills. Some downstream users have chosen to conclude transaction activities before the end of the year, bolstering iron ore prices. Meanwhile, coking coal and coke futures prices have moved up after six government departments released the Benchmark and Threshold Levels for Key Areas of Clean and Efficient Coal Utilization (2025 Edition), positively affecting sentiments in the iron ore market. However, deliveries of iron ore at ports may increase in the coming week, while demand may slacken during the traditional cold winter offseason, which will weaken prices. It is thought that import iron ore prices will likely fluctuate within a limited range in the coming week
Iron ore futures prices at Dalian Commodity Exchange have increased by 1.63 percent today to RMB 777.5/mt ($110.1/mt) compared to the previous trading day, December 17, while increasing by 2.7 percent compared to December 11.
As of December 18, rebar futures at Shanghai Futures Exchange are standing at RMB 3,125/mt ($443/mt), increasing by RMB 56/mt ($7.9/mt) or 1.8 percent since December 11, while up 1.4 percent compared to the previous trading day, December 17.
Imported iron ore prices in China (week-on-week basis)
| Product name | Iron Content |
Truck loaded price (RMB/mt) |
Change (RMB/mt) |
Price ($/mt) |
Change ($/mt) |
| Newman iron ore lump | 63/63.5 | 861 | 4 | 122.0 | 0.8 |
| Yandi fines | 58 / 59 | 780 | 6 | 110.5 | 1.0 |
| PB Fines | 62 | 794 | 6 | 112.5 | 1.0 |
| PB iron ore lump | 62/63 | 873 | 6 | 123.7 | 1.0 |
| Brazil fines | 63 | 830 | 4 | 117.6 | 0.7 |
Price includes VAT.
Nationwide iron ore concentrate prices (66 percent Fe)
| Place of origin | Market price （RMB/mt, Incl. VAT) | Change (RMB/mt) |
Price（$/mt) | Change ($/mt) |
| Tangshan | 872 | -13 | 124 | -2 |
| Beipiao | 853 | 0 | 121 | 0 |
Price includes VAT.
$1 = RMB 7.0583