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Dalian iron ore falls for third straight day on China need issues

Iron ore futures were blended on Thursday, with China's Dalian contract succumbing to a 3rd successive day, injured by a slow start to China's building and construction season and higher supply from Brazil.

The most-traded May iron ore on the Dalian Commodity Exchange closed 1.9% lower at 797 yuan ($ 110.27) per metric heap.

However, the benchmark April iron ore on the Singapore Exchange was 0.4% greater at $101.70 a metric lot as of 0813 GMT.

Citi experts said iron ore costs have come under pressure this year offered a confluence of aspects, consisting of a sluggish start to China building and construction season, high Brazil iron ore exports and high exports into China from non-traditional providers amid elevated ore costs during late 2023.

That stated, we expect China steel production to raise from current levels as we head into construction season, they stated in a note.

China steel consumption development will likely remain weak but with market profits up, we anticipate steel manufacturers to lift output with steel exports remaining high.

The experts forecast iron ore costs to rebound in the second quarter to approximately $120 a ton.

Other steelmaking active ingredients on the DCE fell, with coking coal dropping 2.7% to 1,570.50 yuan a ton and coke down 1.7% at 2,047.50 yuan.

Steel criteria on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were primarily down.

Rebar slid 0.6% to 3,481 yuan a load, hot-rolled coil dropped 1.4% to 3,692 yuan, wire rod reduced 1.2% to 3,750 yuan, while stainless steel bucked the pattern and got 0.9% to 13,490 yuan.

(source: Reuters)