Spot iron ore in China slipped on slower buying interest among Chinese steel producers.
Spot iron ore has fallen 16% from this year's high following a rally that many had doubted would last as the market remained oversupplied.
The buying activity was mainly from traders who kept very low inventory in the last few months and had been restocking with expectation that steel demand would come back strong in the next few months, sources said.
Iron ore for immediate delivery to China's Tianjin Port stood at $53.20 a ton.
But the improved steel margins in the first quarter of the year compared to a year ago “may result in a possible turnaround” for Chinese producers in the current quarter, an analyst said.
China said in January it plans to cut its crude steel production capacity by 100-150 million tons.
Grade % Fe |
Origin |
Product |
load port |
destination |
Mar 31, 2016: cfr ($/ton) |
Mar 30, 2016: cfr ($/ton) |
Mar 29, 2016: cfr ($/ton) |
Mar 28, 2016: cfr ($/ton) |
63.5/63 |
India |
Fines |
Vizag |
Qingdao |
54 |
55 |
56 |
56 |
62 |
India |
Fines |
FOB Vizag |
|
24 |
25 |
26 |
26 |
62 |
Australia |
PB |
Dampier |
Tianjin |
54 |
55 |
56 |
56 |
63.5 |
Brazil |
Fines |
Brazil |
China |
56 |
57 |
58 |
58 |
Source: Traders
Chennai Port Feb dolomite imports catapult m-o-m
India Steel Market Watch
March 31: Dolomite imports through Chennai Port were at 56,268 tons in February 2016 against 934 tons in January 2016, showing an obvious huge increase month-on-month, according to provisional data available with ISMW.
In February 2016, 2,498 tons arrived from Vietnam at a price range of Rs 5,181 – 6,254 ($76-91)/ton and 53,770 tons from Thailand at a unit price of Rs 1,106 ($16).
In January 2016, a volume of 313 tons arrived from Hong Kong at a unit price of Rs 6,095 ($90) and 620 tons from Vietnam at a price range of Rs 6,095 – 6,118 ($89-91)/ton.
The following table contains details of dolomite imports via Chennai Port in February 2016:
DOLOMITE IMPORT, CHENNAI |
|||||
Country Of Origin |
Date |
Item Description |
Unit Price (in Rs./Ton) |
Unit Price (in $/Ton) |
Quantity (in Tons) |
THAILAND |
22-Feb-16 |
DOLOMITE |
1,106 |
16 |
53,770 |
THAILAND Total |
53,770 |
||||
VIETNAM |
4-Feb-16 |
CALCINED DOLOMITE |
5,181 |
76 |
325 |
5-Feb-16 |
BURNT DOLOMITE |
6,204 |
91 |
214 |
|
16-Feb-16 |
CALCINED DOLOMITE |
5,185 |
76 |
418 |
|
18-Feb-16 |
CALCINED DOLOMITE |
5,185 |
76 |
446 |
|
19-Feb-16 |
CALCINED DOLOMITE |
5,185 |
75 |
441 |
|
20-Feb-16 |
CALCINED DOLOMITE |
5,185 |
75 |
335 |
|
24-Feb-16 |
CALCINED DOLOMITE |
6,254 |
91 |
147 |
|
25-Feb-16 |
CALCINED DOLOMITE |
6,254 |
91 |
170 |
|
VIETNAM Total |
2,498 |
||||
Grand Total |
56,268 |
Chennai Feb limestone imports spurt 256% m-o-m
India Steel Market Watch
March 31: Limestone imports via Chennai Port catapulted by more than 256% to 63,018 tons in February 2016 against 17,690 tons seen in the previous month of January 2016, according to provisional data available with ISMW.
The following table contains details of limestone imports via Chennai Port in February 2016:
LIMESTONE IMPORT, CHENNAI |
|||||
Country Of Origin |
Date |
Item Description |
Unit Price (in Rs./Ton) |
Unit Price (in $/Ton) |
Quantity (in Tons) |
EGYPT |
5-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE POWDER - ECO |
5,599 |
82 |
165 |
15-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE POWDER - ECO |
5,603 |
82 |
165 |
|
EGYPT Total |
330 |
||||
MALAYSIA |
3-Feb-16 |
6 X 9 LIMESTONE LUMPS (FORM MICECA CERTIFICATE NO : PK-2016-MICECA-26-000103) |
2,979 |
44 |
265 |
LIMESTONE LUMPS SIZE:6"X9"[VIDE FTA CERTIFICATE NO: PK-2016-AI-21-000045DT:27.01.2016] |
2,418 |
35 |
268 |
||
LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE SAJ-5 (PK-2016-AI-21-000040 DT:22.01.2016) |
4,285 |
63 |
162 |
||
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 2 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000154) |
6,647 |
97 |
108 |
||
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 600 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000154) |
5,569 |
81 |
297 |
||
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 700 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000154) |
5,821 |
85 |
243 |
||
NATURAL LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 2FTA NO : KL-2016-MICECA-26-000580 |
8,372 |
122 |
50 |
||
NATURAL LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 3FTA NO : KL-2016-MICECA-26-000589 |
7,220 |
106 |
150 |
||
5-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 3 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO.KL-2016-MICECA-26-000787) |
6,941 |
101 |
100 |
|
LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 7 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO.KL-2016-MICECA-26-000787) |
5,143 |
75 |
135 |
||
8-Feb-16 |
NATURAL LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 2FTA NO : KL-2016-MICECA-26-000789 |
8,378 |
122 |
25 |
|
NATURAL LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 3FTA NO : KL-2016-MICECA-26-000790 |
7,220 |
105 |
75 |
||
9-Feb-16 |
BURNT LIME (QUICK LIME) |
5,873 |
86 |
480 |
|
LIMESTONE LUMPS SIZE:6"X9"[VIDE FTA CERTIFICATE NO:PK-2016-AI-21-000059 DT:02.02.2016] |
2,420 |
35 |
268 |
||
10-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE POWDER |
6,642 |
97 |
208 |
|
11-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 7 |
5,757 |
84 |
162 |
|
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 2 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000215) |
6,618 |
97 |
54 |
||
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 600 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000215) |
5,545 |
81 |
162 |
||
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 700 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000215) |
5,795 |
85 |
216 |
||
17-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE POWDER |
6,642 |
97 |
208 |
|
LIMESTONE POWDER OMYALITE 20 MI (NOT INTENDED FOR MEDICINALUSE)(FORM MICECA CERTIFICATE NO : PK-2016-MICECA-26-000240) |
5,185 |
76 |
24 |
||
18-Feb-16 |
BURNT LIME (QUICK LIME) |
5,877 |
86 |
480 |
|
LIME STONE POWDER OMYALITE 20 BI FTA COO NO PK-2016-MICECA-26-000244/10/02/2016 |
5,669 |
83 |
120 |
||
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 2 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000216) |
6,617 |
97 |
54 |
||
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 600 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000216) |
5,544 |
81 |
162 |
||
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 700 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000216) |
5,794 |
85 |
216 |
||
QUICK LIME |
4,839 |
71 |
240 |
||
4,839 |
71 |
192 |
|||
23-Feb-16 |
BURNT LIME (QUICK LIME) |
5,920 |
86 |
300 |
|
25-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 2 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000274) |
6,699 |
97 |
162 |
|
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 600 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000274) |
5,613 |
81 |
324 |
||
LIMESTONE POWDER TKN 700 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO. PK-2016-MICECA-26-000274) |
5,866 |
85 |
324 |
||
QUICK LIME (FTA CERT NO:PK-2016-AI-21-000072) |
7,869 |
114 |
312 |
||
27-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 3 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO.KL-2016-MICECA-26-001219) |
6,967 |
101 |
100 |
|
LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 7 (MICECA CERTIFICATE NO.KL-2016-MICECA-26-001221) |
5,451 |
79 |
135 |
||
NATURAL LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 2FTA NO : KL-2016-MICECA-26-001123 |
8,434 |
122 |
50 |
||
NATURAL LIMESTONE POWDER GRADE IMERCARB 3FTA NO : KL-2016-MICECA-26-001126 |
7,272 |
105 |
150 |
||
29-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE LUMPS SIZE:6"X9"[VIDE FTA CERTIFICATE NO:PK-2016-AI-21-000081 DT:23.02.2016] |
2,436 |
35 |
268 |
|
LIMESTONE POWDER |
6,690 |
97 |
208 |
||
6,690 |
97 |
283 |
|||
LIMESTONEPOWDER 700#[VIDE FTA CERTIFICATE NO: PK-2016-AI-21-000077 DT.22.02.2016 |
4,465 |
65 |
52 |
||
MALAYSIA Total |
7,790 |
||||
OMAN |
5-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE POWDER-CALCITE |
3,523 |
51 |
500 |
OMAN Total |
500 |
||||
THAILAND |
10-Feb-16 |
QUICK LIME (FTA CERT NO:IAI2016-0002697 DT. 26/01/2016) |
7,608 |
111 |
1,000 |
THAILAND Total |
1,000 |
||||
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
2-Feb-16 |
LIMESTONE (IN BULK) |
1,325 |
19 |
47,375 |
6-Feb-16 |
QUICK LIME POWDER |
8,736 |
128 |
40 |
|
23-Feb-16 |
QUICK LIME POWDER |
8,688 |
126 |
82 |
|
29-Feb-16 |
QUICK LIME POWDER |
6,964 |
101 |
40 |
|
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Total |
47,537 |
||||
VIETNAM |
1-Feb-16 |
QUICKLIME - AIFTA REF NO. VN-IN 15/05/00935 |
6,313 |
92 |
168 |
QUICKLIME - AIFTA REF NO.VN-IN 15/05/00936 |
6,313 |
92 |
168 |
||
4-Feb-16 |
QUICK LIME |
5,610 |
82 |
322 |
|
8-Feb-16 |
LIME STONE POWDER GRADE: NH-2 (ASEAN INDIA FTAREF NO.VN-IN 16/01/00228) |
5,665 |
83 |
140 |
|
9-Feb-16 |
BURNT LIME (QUICK LIME) |
5,458 |
80 |
1,008 |
|
LIME STONE POWDER GRADE: NH-2 (ASEAN INDIA FTAREF NO.VN-IN 16/01/00219) |
5,665 |
83 |
140 |
||
QUICK LIME-AIFTA REF NO. VN-IN 15/05/00939 |
6,313 |
92 |
175 |
||
QUICK LIME-AIFTA REF NO.VN-IN 15/05/00938 |
6,313 |
92 |
175 |
||
10-Feb-16 |
QUICK LIME (AIFTA NO : VN-IN 15/05/00982) |
6,337 |
93 |
178 |
|
QUICK LIME (AIFTA NO : VN-IN 15/05/00983) |
6,337 |
93 |
174 |
||
11-Feb-16 |
LIME STONE POWDER GCC SUPPER SHINE 1G (AIFTA FORM AI CERTIFICATE NO : VN-IN 16/01/00427) |
5,946 |
87 |
25 |
|
LIME STONE POWDER GCC SUPPER SHINE 2G (AIFTA FORM AI CERTIFICATE NO : VN-IN 16/01/00427) |
5,185 |
76 |
27 |
||
LIME STONE POWDER GCC SUPPER SHINE 3G (AIFTA FORM AI CERTIFICATE NO : VN-IN 16/01/00427) |
4,839 |
71 |
27 |
||
15-Feb-16 |
BURNT LIME (QUICK LIME) |
5,462 |
80 |
1,010 |
|
LIME STONE POWDER -V[VIDE FTA CERTIFICATE NO:VN-IN 16/01/00580 DT:26.01.2016] |
5,757 |
84 |
130 |
||
QUICK LIME (AIFTA NO : VN-IN 15/05/00969) |
6,337 |
93 |
200 |
||
QUICK LIME -AIFTA REF NO.VN-IN 16/05/00020 |
6,426 |
94 |
175 |
||
17-Feb-16 |
QUICK LIME (AIFTA NO : VN-IN 15/05/00970) |
6,337 |
93 |
202 |
|
18-Feb-16 |
QUICKLIME (AIFTA NO : VN-IN 15/05/00977) |
6,426 |
94 |
192 |
|
QUICKLIME (AIFTA NO: VN-IN 15/05/00978) |
6,426 |
94 |
191 |
||
19-Feb-16 |
QUICKLIME (AIFTA NO : VN-IN 15/05/01016) |
6,426 |
93 |
145 |
|
22-Feb-16 |
QUICK LIME |
4,839 |
70 |
534 |
|
23-Feb-16 |
QUICK LIME (AIFTA NO : VN-IN 16/05/00019) |
6,430 |
93 |
179 |
|
QUICK LIME (AIFTA NO: VN-IN 16/05/00037) |
6,431 |
93 |
176 |
||
VIETNAM Total |
5,861 |
||||
Grand Total |
63,018 |
In February 2016, imports included 7,908 tons from Malaysia at a price range of Rs 2,418-Rs 8,434 ($35-$122) per ton, 47,537 tons from the UAE at a price of Rs 1,325 - Rs 8,736 ($19-128) per ton and 5,861 tons from Vietnam at a price range of Rs 4,839 - Rs 6,431 ($70-94) per ton, amongst others.
January 2016 imports included 7,252 tons from Malaysia in a price range of Rs 2,371-Rs 8,372 ($35-$123) per ton, 7,371 tons from Vietnam at price range of Rs 4,036 - Rs 7,207 ($60-107) per ton, 2,650 tons from the UAE at a price range of Rs 7,502 - 9,502 ($110-141) per ton, amongst others.