Iron ore at 3 month high as Chinese steel mills replenished stockpiles
Reuters reported that iron ore hit three month highs and is poised to stretch its winning streak to a fourth straight week as Chinese steel mills replenished stockpiles on hopes a modest revival in steel demand would keep prices firm and preserve margins.
Expectations that steel prices in top consumer China will at least remain at current levels or edge higher ahead of the country's once in a decade leadership change that kicks off next week are also encouraging iron ore buyers.
A Singapore based iron ore trader said that "Many clients are taking positions ahead of the Chinese leadership change. This is a typical period in China where everything must be stable. I'm getting several inquiries from clients who are a bit short on their long term contracts and are looking for spot cargoes."
According to data provider Steel Index, iron ore with 62% iron content .IO62-CNI=SI, the industry benchmark, rose nearly 1% to USD 120.30 a tonne on November 1st 2012, its loftiest since July 25th 2012. It is up 0.6% for the week.
At current steel prices in China, mills are enjoying modest profit margins, but they could be easily squeezed if iron ore prices rise faster, traders said, hence the limited gain in iron ore prices this week.
The Singapore trader said that "Once the price hits USD 125, I think a lot of the steel mills will complain and step back from the market."
The most traded rebar for May delivery on the Shanghai Futures Exchange closed nearly flat at CNY 3,676 a tonne, and also little changed for the week.
Spot cargoes sold by miners this week showed shipments being sold not far off previous prices or slightly higher, reflecting cautious optimism among buyers.
Traders said that top iron ore miner Vale sold another cargo of 65.61% grade material at around USD 130 a tonne at a tender on November 1st 2012, lower than market expectations of USD 132 but in line with recent transactions.
Traders said that a separate cargo of 63.8% grade material was sold at USD 123.80 per tonne, in line with expectations. Recent data suggesting the Chinese economy is slowly regaining traction may bode well for steel and iron ore demand.
China's manufacturing activity picked up in October 2012, according to government and private sector factory surveys on November 1st 2012, showing the world's No 2 economy may be on the road to recovery after a seven quarter slowdown.
Mr Graeme Train, commodity analysts at Macquarie in Shanghai, said that "There's room for steel demand from manufacturing to increase as we end the destocking of manufactured products. China has been destocking white goods and machinery and autos all year so even if demand is just flattish, then you should get an increase in production of these products which should boost steel consumption."
Source - Reuters