Latest News

Iron ore strikes seven-week low on softening China steel need, higher supply bets

Iron ore futures extended their decline to a fifth straight session on Wednesday, striking a sevenweek trough, pressured by failing steel demand and expectations of higher shipments to top consumer China in June.

The most-traded September iron ore contract on China's. Dalian Product Exchange (DCE) ended daytime trade. 1.84% lower at 825 yuan ($ 113.86) a metric load, the most affordable because. April 16.

The benchmark July iron ore on the Singapore. Exchange fell 1.21% to $106.35 a load, as of 0714 GMT, the lowest. considering that April 11.

Focus has actually moved back to weak principles from. stimulus-driven expectations of demand picking up; supply will. likely keep high in June while there is restricted upside space. for demand, said Cheng Peng, a Beijing-based analyst at. Sinosteel Futures.

The consumption of steelmaking components diminished in addition to. falling hot metal output, while portside stocks continued to. pile up, putting ore rates under down pressure, experts at. Huatai Futures stated in a note.

However some steel mills might go back to stock cargoes to. satisfy production requirements over the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival. following relentless cost falls, which may limit cost loss,. Sinosteel's Cheng included.

The Chinese futures market will be closed on June 10 for the. holiday.

Other steelmaking ingredients on the DCE pulled away even more,. with coking coal and coke down 0.96% and. 0.97%, respectively.

Steel benchmarks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange lost. ground. Rebar fell 0.68%, hot-rolled coil (HRC). dipped 0.34%, wire rod edged down 0.41% and. stainless steel shed 1.63%.

The apparent usage of medium plate, HRC and. building steel items shrank more steeply this week, information. from information service provider Zhaogang revealed.

The information is worse than we had expected, so rates will fall. even more, a Singapore-based trader said.

The suspension of building and construction activities for the upcoming. National College Entryway Examination in numerous Chinese cities. also curbed steel demand, analysts stated.

(source: Reuters)