Research

Forecasts and market analysis based on price assessments from Fastmarkets MB and Fastmarkets AMM

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April 2015 | Steel Raw Materials


Prices bounce back as mills undergo restocking: Iron Ore Market Analysis


Despite relatively poor mill profit margins, MBR understands that local steel producers have increased their blast furnace utilisation rate.

Major Chinese iron ore import prices recorded substantial hikes over the past week, as some domestic mills were caught holding relatively low steel raw materials inventories. Chinese steelmakers have been operating a strategy of holding lean steel raw materials stocks, owing to thin, or even negative, margins. However, a revival in downstream demand prompted mills to increase crude steel production through April. Iron ore consumption increased in tandem with higher crude steel output and, as a result, more...

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