- Write by:
-
Saturday, May 30, 2020 - 9:44:11 AM
-
954 Visit
-
Print
Mining News Pro - Iron-ore surged past $100/t as supply woes in Brazil coincide with sustained, robust demand in top steel producer China.
Benchmark spot prices climbed to $101.05 on Friday as Brazil, the world’s second-largest exporter, saw a surge in coronavirus infections, stoking worries that the pandemic may curb local supply. In April, miner Vale cut its annual shipment guidance on bad weather and the virus’s impact on operations. Meanwhile, port stockpiles of iron-ore in China have continued to decline.
The industrial staple has prospered in 2020 even as the coronavirus pandemic hammered industrial activity in many economies, although Bloomberg Intelligence has been among observers warning that market may flip to a surplus in the second half. In addition to Vale, the higher prices will bolster returns at BHP Group, Rio Tinto Group and Fortescue Metals Group.
The early resumption of industrial operations in China has fueled a recovery in downstream activity and steel mills continue to increase output, China International Capital Corp. analysts including Ma Kai wrote in a note.
“Iron ore will fundamentally maintain a tight balance this year,” with supply gradually recovering from the third quarter, they said.
Benchmark spot prices are at the highest since August. Futures in Singapore were at $97, heading for their biggest ever monthly gain. On the Dalian Commodity Exchange, futures have rallied 23% in May.
Credit Suisse Group recently estimated that the market is now at “peak tightness,” a condition that will probably persist until July. Bloomberg Intelligence expects a 34-million-ton surplus in the second half on higher supply and stagnating demand, flipping from a 25-million-ton deficit in the first half. That’s throwing a spotlight on whether the price gains are sustainable.
“There remain doubts” as to the strength of the rally over the next one to three months, said Hui Heng Tan, analyst at Marex Spectron Group. A pickup in supply in Australia and Brazil is expected to gather pace, although disruptions in the South American country will be a factor to watch in the second half, he said. That increase in volumes could potentially coincide with when China exits its peak construction period with elevated steel stockpiles, he said.
Short Link:
https://www.miningnews.ir/En/News/537411
Brazil’s Corumba region could more than double iron ore shipments through neighboring Uruguay this year if there is ...
When former boss Mark Cutifani left Anglo American Plc in mid-April 2022, things had rarely looked better for the ...
Brazilian miner Vale SA sees no impact from BHP Group’s bid for Anglo American on the latter’s Minas-Rio project, its ...
Iron ore futures were poised for a third straight weekly rise as prices largely consolidated gains on Friday, with ...
Anglo American Plc said it is has received an unsolicited non-binding combination proposal from BHP Group.
A key measure of Chinese copper demand just sank to zero, another indication that global prices are not balanced with ...
Mining company Vale expects to reach a final agreement with authorities for reparations for the collapse of the Samarco ...
Brazilian miner Vale on Wednesday said lower prices for iron ore, nickel and copper in the first quarter dragged down ...
Anglo American Plc said it is has received an unsolicited non-binding combination proposal from BHP Group.
No comments have been posted yet ...