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Iron ore falls to more than one-month low on sluggish China metal output

Iron ore futures extended decreases to a second straight session on Monday, weighed down by slower production of hot metal in China, although stronger economic data from the leading customer restricted the fall.

The most-traded May iron ore agreement on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) ended morning trade 1.37%. lower at 758.0 yuan ($ 103.43) a metric load.

The benchmark February iron ore on the Singapore. Exchange eased 1.19% to $97.65 a heap, since 0350 GMT.

With the Chinese New Year vacation beginning in just 4. weeks' time, the pre-holiday stockpiling of iron ore will lend. some support to rates of the feedstock this month, Chinese. consultancy Mysteel said.

But ore costs will deal with down pressure as the seasonal. decline in hot metal output at mills will see slow ore. replenishment.

Output at Chinese blast-furnace steel manufacturers has. continued to decline steadily, driven by increasing maintenance. stoppages as Chinese Brand-new Year is approaching, Mysteel added.

Meanwhile, international iron ore supply has actually recently been at a. high level, driven by shipments from Australian mines, Chinese. consultancy Hexun Futures stated.

For the next week, the average day-to-day molten iron output will. continue to decrease, while iron ore inventory will continue to. build up somewhat, Hexun added.

China's services activity broadened at the fastest pace in. seven months in December, driven by a rise in domestic need,. but orders from abroad decreased, reflecting growing trade threats. to the economy, an economic sector study revealed on Monday.

Other steelmaking ingredients on the DCE were weaker, with. coking coal and coke down 0.22% and 1.71%,. respectively.

Most steel benchmarks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange. posted minimal losses. Rebar slipped about 0.6%,. hot-rolled coil shed around 0.9% and wire rod. dipped 0.03%, while stainless steel got practically. 0.1%.

(source: Reuters)