Tuesday, 08 Feb 2011
Reuters reported that thin spot iron ore trading activity on Monday kept prices steady near record highs with top buyer China off the market for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Prices are expected to resume their rally when the Chinese markets reopen on Wednesday on persistent worries about tight supplies through the first half of 2011.
Macquarie Research said in a note that "There is little expansion potential in the global supply chain while rampant Chinese steel production growth is bolstering demand conditions. We would expect the price to keep edging upwards post Chinese New Year with USD 200 per tonne in sight."
Macquarie said the sharp decline in Brazil iron ore exports last month along with continuously tight cargoes from India suggest that the iron ore market will remain in an extremely tight situation in the first half of the year.
Iron ore exports from Brazil the world No 2 supplier of the steelmaking ingredient fell 29% in January from the previous month as heavy rains disrupted shipments.
Supplies from India, the world No 3 exporter had been tight because of a continuing ban on shipments from its Karnataka state. Macquarie said while a possible lifting of the ban this month could bring some material back to the market, the revamped state rules may make paperwork more rigorous and curb shipments compared to last year.
(sourced:Reuters)
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