https://www.engineeringnews.co.za
Coal|Construction|Iron Ore|Lifting|Stainless Steel|Steel
Coal|Construction|Iron Ore|Lifting|Stainless Steel|Steel
coal|construction|iron-ore|lifting|stainless-steel|steel

Iron-ore slump deepens on China demand anxiety, supply pressure

12th May 2023

By: Reuters

  

Font size: - +

Iron-ore futures wobbled on Friday and were on track for weekly losses due to waning optimism over prospects for demand recovery in top steel producer and metals consumer China, with additional pressure from rebounding supplies from Australia and Brazil.

The most-traded September iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange dropped as much as 3.6% to 685.50 yuan ($99.17) a tonne, its weakest since May 5, keeping it on track for a sixth consecutive weekly decline.

On the Singapore Exchange, the steelmaking ingredient's benchmark June contract was up 1% at $99.55 a tonne, as of 03:06 GMT, after earlier hitting $96.90, its lowest since May 5.

SGX iron ore has slumped more than 20% since hitting this year's peak at about $131/t in mid-March, as the initial euphoria over China's lifting of Covid-19 restrictions and supportive measures for the struggling property sector had abated.

The current macroeconomic backdrop has turned out uninspiring, raising concerns about whether China could sustain its 4.5% year-on-year GDP growth in the first quarter.

Data on Thursday showed new Chinese bank loans tumbled far more sharply than expected in April, adding to worries that the economy's post-pandemic recovery is losing steam and putting pressure on the central bank to ease policy.

Meanwhile, many Chinese steel mills have reportedly lowered their prices amid disappointment over steel demand during the country's peak spring construction season.

"With the peak construction season coming to an end and with the expected demand recovery not meeting expectations, there is little upside for steel output and iron ore demand recovery in the short to medium term," said ING commodities strategist Ewa Manthey.

Rebar on the Shanghai Futures Exchange shed 0.9%, hot-rolled coil lost 1.3%, wire rod SWRcv1 dipped 0.4%, and stainless steel SHSScv1 dropped 0.3%.

Coking coal and coke on the Dalian exchange, however, gained 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively, in a wobbly trade.

Edited by Reuters

Comments

Showroom

VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd
VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd

For over 60 years, VEGA has provided industry-leading products for the measurement of level, density, weight and pressure. As the inventor of the...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Environmental Assurance (Pty) Ltd.
Environmental Assurance (Pty) Ltd.

ENVASS is a customer and solutions-driven environmental consultancy with established divisions, serviced by highly qualified and experienced...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Magazine round up | 10 May 2024
Magazine round up | 17 May 2024
17th May 2024
Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (10/05/2024)
10th May 2024 By: Martin Creamer

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.338 0.393s - 158pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now