Chinese iron ore futures high on supply concerns
Post Date: 03 Jan 2014 Viewed: 394
Chinese iron ore futures extended gains to hit a two-week high on Monday amid supply concerns as bad weather disrupted iron ore shipment from the world's two largest producing countries.
The three biggest ports in Australia, that account for almost all of the country's exports of the raw material, were closed to shipping due to an intensifying tropical cyclone and Brazil's Vale also declared force majeure on some shipments from its mines because of heavy rains.
Weak appetite in top consumer China, as slow steel demand kept steel mills from rebuilding much inventory of the raw material, is expected to limit gains this week.
The most-traded iron ore futures May contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange rose to a session high of CNY 920 (USD 150), a level last seen on December.17. It narrowed gains to trade at CNY 912 by 0315 GMT, up 1%.
Australia can expect an average cyclone season running from Nov. 1 to April 30, with up to 11 storms, while Vale expected the storm to have an impact on 3 million to 4 million tonnes of contracted iron ore shipments in 2013, pushing up iron ore swaps.
The iron ore swap for January contract cleared by the Singapore Exchange rose USD 1 to USD 135.5 a tonne in morning trade.