Latest News

Iron ore rebounds on lower stocks, firmer steel exports

Prices of iron ore futures recovered on Thursday, buoyed by lower stockpiles and higher steel export volumes from China, although the top consumer's failing domestic need topped gains.

The most-traded January iron ore contract on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) ended morning trade 0.73%. higher at 686.5 yuan ($ 96.89) a metric heap.

The benchmark October iron ore on the Singapore. Exchange was 1.52% higher at $92.1 a load, since 0330 GMT.

Iron ore buying in port stocks and seaborne freights markets. warmed up on Sept. 18, as trading resumed after China's. Mid-Autumn Celebration vacation, although costs declined, Chinese. consultancy Mysteel stated in a note.

Meanwhile, costs of steel items, in particular rebar and. wire rod, are most likely to strengthen over Sept. 18-20, supported. by ongoing declines in steel inventories and rising production,. Mysteel stated.

Total iron ore stockpiles across ports in China dipped. 0.73% week-on-week to 149.4 million lots, as of Sept. 13,. Steelhome information showed.

Newest trade numbers from Chinese customizeds show cumulative. steel product exports were up 20% year-on-year, reaching 70.58. million heaps over the very first eight months of the year, ING. experts said.

The larger volumes of steel exports come amidst weaker. domestic need, added ING.

Last week's rebound in iron ore rates was mainly triggered by. the inequality in between supply and demand of completed items, and. downstream demand for replenishment ahead of the national. vacation, stated Chinese financial details website Hexun Futures.

In the medium term, there is no significant change in iron. ore fundamentals, as the pattern of high supply and weak need. remains, Hexun Futures stated.

Other steelmaking components on the DCE gained ground, with. coking coal and coke up 1.58% and 0.97%,. respectively.

Steel standards on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were. more powerful. Wire rod climbed up 2.46%, rebar. reinforced nearly 0.8%, hot-rolled coil included 0.75%. and stainless steel acquired 0.6%. ($ 1 = 7.0856 Chinese yuan)

(source: Reuters)