Demand shift sends China iron ore lump premiums soaring

  • Market: Metals
  • 04/12/20

Seaborne iron ore lump premiums have surged by 86pc in the last week, supported by strong demand as Chinese steel output stays high heading into winter and the dwindling supply of low-cost pellet alternatives.

The Argus 62pc iron ore lump premium jumped by 3¢/dry metric tonne unit (dmtu) to 13¢/dmt unit cfr Qingdao yesterday and has almost doubled from 7¢/dmtu a week earlier. The premium is the extra cost for every 1pc Fe in lump over the underlying ICX 62pc fines index. Lump was priced at $146.55/dmt on an outright basis yesterday, while the ICX was at $137/dmt cfr Qingdao.

A Newman Blend Lump (NBL) cargo traded at 14.2¢/dmtu fob basis over a January 62pc fines index on the Corex platform yesterday, accelerating the uptrend.

Chinese port inventories of Indian pellet fell to minimal levels in late November, eliminating a low-cost alternative to Brazilian pellet that makes up the bulk of China's port stocks.

Total lump stocks at six northern China ports have fallen by a third to 11mn-12mn t this week from around 18mn t in mid-November, market participants said. Chinese lump demand rises in winter when pollution restrictions limit fines sintering.

Direct-charge supply tightness is part of an overall shortage in seaborne markets caused by lower Brazilian output and tight supply of steel that is drawing more global capacity back on line.

Brazilian mining firm Vale has cut its 2020 production guidance to 300mn-305mn t. Vale's production had been on pace to exceed 400mn t before it was hit by a January 2019 fatal dam accident, heavy rains and Covid-19 delays.

Blast furnace restarts in Europe and US are diverting iron ore concentrate and pellet supply from China.

"Iron ore lump demand at portside markets has improved as it is more cost-effective now compared with pellet, pushing up lump prices since mid-November," a north China-based mill manager said. Pilbara Blend Lump (PBL) traded at Yn975/wet metric tonne (wmt) yesterday, up by about 7-8pc from Yn900-910/wmt on 16 November, he said.

Soaring flat steel prices are giving iron ore prices margin room to move higher.

But portside lump premiums have lagged seaborne prices. Portside lump premiums on a Yn/wmt basis have followed seaborne trends, but on a Yn/dmt basis have only turned positive this week.

"Traders' speculative demand pushed up seaborne lump premiums along with limited liquidity of lump cargoes in the seaborne market," a Shanghai-based trader said. Mills hold long-term contracts for PBL, limiting supply for spot sales, he said.

"There is at least a Yn100/t loss for landing an iron ore lump cargo at port now, while there is about a Yn20-30/t profit for portside lump sales using earlier import costs," a Tangshan-based mill analyst said. Portside traders usually hedge in derivatives markets to ensure margins, he added.

But some participants are not that optimistic about the outlook for lump premiums.

"Seaborne lump premiums remain much higher than portside lump premiums. I do not think it will go sky high, as the high metallurgical coke price will cap the rise, and there are relatively high stocks at China ports," an east China trader said.

PBL portside vs seaborne index lump premiums

Sharelinkedin-sharetwitter-sharefacebook-shareemail-share

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News
03/05/24

Brazil's Gerdau eyes special steel mill in Mexico

Brazil's Gerdau eyes special steel mill in Mexico

Sao Paulo, 3 May (Argus) — Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau is considering building another steel plant in Mexico as it seeks to expand its footprint in the country. The company started a feasibility study for the construction of a special steel unit that would have a production capacity of up to 600,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr, chief executive Gustavo Werneck said today. The move follows an optimistic outlook for the country's automotive industry and increased nearshoring — where companies move production closer to the US to tackle supply chain snarls seen during the pandemic. "Important players in the automotive industry, including current Gerdau customers, are expanding their operations to Mexico, which is becoming one of the most relevant countries in the production of automotive parts," Werneck said on a LinkedIn post. He did not give financial details. Gerdau's first quarter crude steel production in North America fell by 2.8pc , but it posted 3.3pc output growth in its special steel business — which includes operations in Brazil and US — mainly driven by automobile production in Brazil, it said. Mexico's auto sales to the US were 0.9pc higher year-on-year in March and first quarter auto exports rose by 1.9pc from the same period of 2023. Gerdau operates two mills in Mexico with a combined nameplate capacity of 1.5mn t/yr. By Carolina Pulice Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Find out more
News

US job growth nearly halved in April: Update


03/05/24
News
03/05/24

US job growth nearly halved in April: Update

Adds services PMI in first, fifth paragraphs, factory PMI reference in sixth paragraph. Houston, 3 May (Argus) — The US added fewer jobs in April as the unemployment rate ticked up and average earnings growth slowed, signs of gradually weakening labor market conditions. A separate survey showed the services sector contracted last month. The US added 175,000 jobs in April, the Labor Department reported today, fewer than the 238,000 analysts anticipated. That compared with an upwardly revised 315,000 jobs in March and a downwardly revised 236,000 jobs in February. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9pc from 3.8pc. The unemployment rate has ranged from 3.7-3.9pc since August 2023, near the five-decade low of 3.4pc. The latest employment report comes after the Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its target lending rate unchanged for a sixth time and signaled it would be slower in cutting rates from two-decade highs as the labor market has remained "strong" and inflation, even while easing, is "still too high". US stocks opened more than 1pc higher today after the jobs report and the yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 4.47pc. Futures markets showed odds of a September rate cut rose by about 10 percentage points to about 70pc after the report. Services weakness Another report today showed the biggest segment of the economy contracted last month. The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) services purchasing managers index (PMI) fell to 49.4 in April from 51.4 in March, ending 15 months of expansion. The services PMI employment index fell to 45.9, the fourth contraction in five months, in today's report. Readings below 50 signal contraction. On 1 May, ISM reported that the manufacturing PMI fell to 49.2 in April, after one month of growth following 16 months of contraction. In today's employment report from the Labor Department, average hourly earnings grew by 3.9pc over the 12 month period, down from 4.1pc in the period ended in March. Job gains in the 12 months through March averaged 242,000. Gains, including revisions, averaged 276,000 in the prior three-month period. Job gains occurred in health care, social services and transportation and warehousing. Health care added 56,000 jobs, in line with the gains over the prior 12 months. Transportation and warehousing added 22,000, also near the 12-month average. Retail trade added 20,000. Construction added 9,000 following 40,000 in March. Government added 8,000, slowing from an average of 55,000 in the prior 12 months. Manufacturing added 9,000 jobs after posting 4,000 jobs the prior month. Mining and logging lost 3,000 jobs. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

US met coal suppliers expect belated supply tensions


03/05/24
News
03/05/24

US met coal suppliers expect belated supply tensions

London, 3 May (Argus) — US coking coal prices have so far brushed off any impact of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore on 26 March and the subsequent disruption of vessel traffic via the Port of Baltimore. Suppliers such as Arch Resources and Blackhawk that utilise the Baltimore shipping route have sought effective alternative arrangements so far and buyers have been largely comfortable despite some delays in laycans. Other suppliers such as Northern Appalachia's largest producer, Consol Energy's Bailey mine , which is a key supplier to Atlantic end-users, have faced more challenges, market participants suggest. The decline in fob Australia coal prices from last year's highs amid improved supply availability has also weighed on prices. The Argus assessed premium low-volatile coking coal fob Australia price was at $242.80/t on 3 May, largely unchanged from $254/t on 26 March after reaching a low of $224/t on 8 April. The US east coast prices have followed a similar trajectory, with low-volatile fob US east coast at $215/t today down from $220/t on 26 March after falling to a low in April. Low European demand has been one of the reasons behind the tepid response to coking coal shipment delays from the US. But with expectations of at least some recovery in the second half of 2024 and still no firm date on when the Baltimore traffic will return to normal, some US suppliers suggest coking coal prices may face some upward pressure later this year. Luxembourg-based steelmaker ArcelorMittal has kept its apparent steel demand outlook in Europe unchanged for 2024, expecting a growth of 2-4pc on the year . European steel association Eurofer downgraded its apparent steel consumption outlook for 2024 again , to 3.2pc from a previous forecast of 5.6pc, owing to worsening geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, energy prices, inflation and higher interest rates. But this would still be an improvement from a 9pc fall in steel consumption in 2023. There is also optimism among US coal suppliers that Brazil may be a source of renewed demand in the coming months with domestic steel production expected to improve. The Brazilian government is due to increase taxes for some imported steel products after facing pressure from the domestic steel industry to apply tariffs on imports, in particular on Chinese steel. Taxes will be increased to 25pc on 11 steel products — mainly flat rolled — contingent on such import levels exceeding prescribed quotas, the trade ministry's committee on foreign commerce, Gecex/Camex, said. Brazil's crude steel output reached 31.9mn t in 2023, down by 6.5pc on the year, World Steel Association data show. In the US, the fall in seaborne met coal prices also points to potential consolidation in the sector and the possibility of supplies tightening down the road. Industry participants highlight that some of the small and mid-sized mining operations that have emerged in the past two years amid a strong price environment are struggling. Bens Creek Group, which operates the Bens Creek Mining project in West Virigina with around 30,000-35,000st (27,200-31,800t) per month of coking coal output, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April. The year-to-date average price of high-volatile A for 2024 stands at $242.62/t fob Hampton Roads and is estimated to be above production costs for some of these mines. In 2022, high-volatile A prices averaged $347.81/t fob Hampton Roads, driven by a combination of market concerns over the Russia-Ukraine conflict and supply disruptions in Australia. While Russian coking coal remains available and competitively priced in the market, in particular a key supply source for China, US sanctions will continue to put pressure on major coal importers such as India and South Korea to reduce their Russian imports. The US announced fresh sanctions against Russian coal producer Sibanthracite's group of companies earlier this week. By Siew Hua Seah Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

US job growth nearly halved in April


03/05/24
News
03/05/24

US job growth nearly halved in April

Houston, 3 May (Argus) — The US added fewer jobs in April as the unemployment rate ticked up and average earnings growth fell, signs of gradually weakening labor market conditions. The US added 175,000 jobs in April, the Labor Department reported today, fewer than the 238,000 analysts anticipated. That compared with an upwardly revised 315,000 jobs in March and a downwardly revised 236,000 jobs in February. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9pc from 3.8pc. The unemployment rate has ranged from 3.7-3.9pc since August 2023, near the five-decade low of 3.4pc. The latest employment report comes after the Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its target lending rate unchanged for a sixth time and signaled it would be slower in cutting rates from two-decade highs as the labor market has remained "strong" and inflation, even while easing, is "still too high". US stocks opened more than 1pc higher today after the jobs report and the yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 4.47pc. Futures markets showed odds of a September rate cut rose by about 10 percentage points to about 70pc after the report. Average hourly earnings grew by 3.9pc over the 12 month period, down from 4.1pc in the period ended in March. Job gains in the 12 months through March averaged 242,000. Gains, including revisions, averaged 276,000 in the prior three-month period. Job gains occurred in health care, social services and transportation and warehousing. Health care added 56,000 jobs, in line with the gains over the prior 12 months. Transportation and warehousing added 22,000, also near the 12-month average. Retail trade added 20,000. Construction added 9,000 following 40,000 in March. Government added 8,000, slowing from an average of 55,000 in the prior 12 months. Manufacturing added 9,000 jobs after posting 4,000 jobs the prior month. Mining and logging lost 3,000 jobs. By Bob Willis Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

UK decoiler Atlantic Steel enters administration


03/05/24
News
03/05/24

UK decoiler Atlantic Steel enters administration

London, 3 May (Argus) — Birkenhead-based decoiler Atlantic Steel filed for administration yesterday, according to a filing seen by Argus . The company has been under pressure since its previous owners took a large chunk of cash out of the business as part of a management buyout in 2022. Credit insurers began to pull cover on the business towards the end of last year, and suppliers have been calling retention of title, which protects suppliers in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy, in recent days. Sources suggest the debt of the business at the time of administration is around £18mn. The previous owners are preferential creditors after the banks, as they were due another £5mn from the business, according to Companies House filings. Market sources suggest it is likely the business will be bought out of administration, with other service centres interested in the assets — the lease on the site expires in the next few years but is extendable, and Atlantic operates the largest decoiler in the UK, capable of decoiling over 2.5m wide. It is also situated on the dock at Birkenhead, which cuts inland transportation costs. The UK HRC market has been under pressure for a number of months, in line with the struggles seen in Europe. Argus ' weekly assessment was £605/t ddp West Midlands on 2 May, down from a recent peak of £700/t at the start of February. The assessment reached an all-time high of £1,200/t on 31 March 2022, and the management buyout took place later that year. By Colin Richardson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more