China Iron and Steel Association

In April, the domestic market demand was strong, and steel production remained at a relatively high level, with a slight increase month-on-month; iron ore imports and port inventories fell slightly from the previous month, and iron ore prices turned from a decline to an increase, and the overall trend was high.

China's iron ore price index turns from falling to rising

According to the monitoring of this association, at the end of April, the China Iron Ore Price Index (CIOPI) was 665.24 points, an increase of 79.00 points or 13.48% month-on-month, and the month-on-month increase from decline to increase.

In terms of sub-indices, the domestic iron ore price index was 523.89 points, an increase of 40.64 points or 8.41% month-on-month, and the price index of imported iron ore was 691.96 points, an increase of 86.26 from a decrease to an increase. Points, an increase of 14.24%.

Looking at the situation for the whole month, the average CIOPI composite index in April was 631.28 points, an increase of 33.42 points or 5.59% from the average in March. Among them, the average domestic iron ore price index was 496.88 points, a decrease of 1.00 point from the March average, a decrease of 0.20%; the average imported iron ore price index was 656.69 points, an increase of 39.93 points from the March average. It is 6.47%.

Imported iron ore prices rose more than domestic iron ore

At the end of April, the price of CIOPI domestic iron ore concentrate was 1152.19 yuan/ton, an increase of 89.37 yuan/ton, an increase of 8.41%; the CIOPI imported fine ore price was 186.90 US dollars/ton, an increase of 23.30 US dollars/ton, an increase of 14.24 %, 5.83 percentage points higher than domestic mines.

Judging from the situation of the whole month, the average tax-included price of domestic iron ore was 1092.79 yuan/ton, a decrease of 2.20 yuan/ton from March, a decrease of 0.20%; the average CIF price of imported fines was US$177.37/ton, compared with March An increase of 10.79 US dollars / ton, an increase of 6.47%.

Iron ore prices will remain high

As the domestic market enters the peak season for steel consumption, steel production will remain at a high level. The demand for iron ore will have a strong push on prices. It is difficult for iron ore prices to fall and will maintain a high level of operation.

Steel output rose slightly and remained at a relatively high level.

According to statistics from the Association’s quarterly report, in April, member steel companies produced 2,389,900 tons of crude steel per day, an increase of 0.25% from the previous month. It is estimated that the country’s daily production of crude steel is 3.0544 million tons, an increase of 0.71% from the previous month; the daily production of iron is 2,433,300 tons, an increase of 0.91% from the previous month. Generally speaking, steel production still has a strong driving effect on iron ore demand.

Iron ore imports and port inventories both fell slightly.

According to customs data, in April, the country imported 98.57 million tons of iron ore, a decrease of 3.543 million tons from March. According to statistics from relevant agencies, at the end of April, the port inventory of imported iron ore was 130.27 million tons, a month-on-month decrease of 390,000 tons, or 0.30%; an increase of 16.29 million tons, or 14.29% year-on-year.

Iron ore prices still far exceed steel prices

According to the monitoring of the Association, on May 7, the China Steel Price Index (CSPI) was 156.02 points, a year-on-year increase of 57.86 points, an increase of 58.94%; during the same period, the CIOPI imported iron ore price was US$207.00/ton, a year-on-year increase of US$124.49/ton. , An increase of 150.88%, the price of iron ore far exceeds that of steel, bringing greater cost pressure on the production and operation of iron and steel enterprises this year.