Research

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

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December 2015 | Steel Raw Materials


Mills extend shift towards lower grade ores: Iron Ore Market Analysis


Some Chinese mills have continued to purchase medium grade iron ore fines as they “manage” blast furnace production costs.

The structural shift in China away from investment towards a consumption-led economy, particularly in the real estate sector, has had a detrimental impact on the Chinese construction industry. Domestic construction activity, a pivotal driver for Chinese steel consumption, has weakened markedly over the past year. In fact, domestic cement production, a leading indicator for construction activity, declined 5% year-on-year to 1.95Bn tonnes in the first ten months of 2015. At the same time, persistent domestic overproduction of steel has exacerbated weaker Chinese steel demand and placed further...

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