Benchmark Singapore iron ore prices dipped on Wednesday, while Dalian futures contracts languished near six-week lows, after BHP Group reported higher quarterly output of the steelmaking ingredient, adding to supply-side pressures.
BHP, the world's biggest listed miner, kept its full-year iron ore production guidance unchanged, while warning that global economic uncertainty was expected to continue affecting supply chains, energy costs, labour markets and equipment and materials availability.
On Tuesday, Brazil's Vale reported a 1.1% increase in quarterly iron-ore production, while Rio Tinto posted a 4% rise in shipments in the last quarter compared with the previous three months.
Benchmark November iron-ore on the Singapore Exchange was down 0.7% at $92 a tonne, as of 07:02 GMT. It hit a 2022 low of $90.30 on Tuesday.
The most-traded January iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange ended a range-bound daytime trade 0.4% higher at 688 yuan ($95.24) a tonne, after touching a six-week low of 678 yuan in the previous session.
In the spot market, the benchmark 62%-grade iron ore held steady at an 11-month low of $94 a tonne on Tuesday, SteelHome consultancy data showed, amid weakening demand in top steel producer China.
"Negative margins and weaker demand prospects are discouraging steel mills to increase production. On the other hand, supply side has been strong," ANZ commodities strategists said in a note.
With global recession risks and China's slowdown due to its zero-Covid policy and property sector downturn, "many steel mills have stopped production in advance for winter repairs", analysts at Huatai Futures said in a note.
Rebar on the Shanghai Futures Exchange extended losses to a fourth session, down 0.5%, hot rolled coil slipped 0.4%, while wire rod dropped 0.6%. Stainless steel climbed 1.5%.
Dalian coking coal DJMcv1 shed 0.3%, but coke DCJcv rebounded with a gain of 0.3%.