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Iron ore drops further as strong supply, China steel sell-off weigh

Iron ore futures rates lost more ground on Thursday, weighed by strong worldwide supply and the persistently weak steel market in top customer China, although hints of much heavier monetary stimulus helped limit losses.

The most-traded September iron ore contract on China's. Dalian Product Exchange (DCE) succumbed to a fifth. straight session to close early morning trade with a loss of nearly 1%. to 769 yuan ($ 105.93) a metric ton.

The benchmark August iron ore on the Singapore. Exchange fell below the key mental level of $100 a heap to. strike an intraday low of $99.2 a heap. It lost 0.79% at $100.1 a. lot, since 0351 GMT.

Regional steel trading associations in China are looking for new. quality requirements for steel rebar, utilized in building and construction, to be. postponed after a wave of panic inventory sell-downs pressured the. ferrous market.

Steel benchmarks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were. weaker. Rebar, hot-rolled coil and stainless. steel fell more than 1%, while wire rod. toppled over 4%.

Hopes of positive monetary markets trading China's. commercial metals complex have actually been met squashing. frustration after China's third plenum failed to deliver on. expectations of broad-stroke stimulus steps, stated Atilla. Widnell, handling director at Navigate Commodities.

More worryingly, a multitude of dismal Chinese data recently. shows an accelerating rate of contraction in flooring space under. construction, conclusions and residential or commercial property prices, implying hyped-up. federal government policies to mop up excess housing stocks are. having a soft impact, Widnell included.

Australia's Fortescue projection greater iron ore. shipments for fiscal 2025 and posted a 24% sequential increase to. record deliveries in the 4th quarter.

However, iron ore rates clawed back some losses after. China's central bank stunned markets by conducting an. unscheduled lending operation at steeply lower rates, recommending. authorities are trying to offer much heavier monetary stimulus.

Other steelmaking ingredients on the DCE- coking coal. and coke lost 0.17% and 0.64%, respectively.

(source: Reuters)