Iron ore prices have increased in Brazil from last week, as a result of higher prices of the product in the Chinese spot market, coupled with reduced ocean freight rates for the benefit of FOB quotations. Furthermore, the premium for lumps has also increased, but the premium for pellets was reduced after having recently achieved all-time highs.
Sinter feed fines of 65 percent iron contents are estimated to be traded for export from Brazil at $73/mt (up $2/mt), the equivalent lumps $97/mt (up $5/mt) and blast furnace grade pellets at $139/mt (up $1/mt), FOB conditions.
In the Brazilian domestic market, for equivalent ores, the prices are $67/mt for sinter feed fines, $91/mt for lumps and $133/mt for blast furnace grade pellets, ex-works, no taxes included.