The price of Brazilian high-grade iron ore, 65 percent iron contents, is $115/mt today, CFR China, against $113/mt on March 27.
Sources mentioned that the small increase reflects the anticipation of acquisitions in China to the first three days of the week, as Thursday and Friday are holidays in the country. The recovery of iron ore prices remains negatively impacted by the slow recovery of the construction activity in the country, and its demand for steel products.
The export price of blast furnace grade pellets is now $128/mt, against $126/mt previously, reflecting a stable premium ascribed to the product, in relation to the equivalent sinter feed fines.
The premium of the Brazilian high-grade ore, in relation to the Australian 62 percent iron ore, when considering their iron units, is now 6.4 percent, against 6.9 percent previously, still reflecting the interest by the integrated steel producers for the higher productivity and lower emissions of the premium ores when processed in blast furnaces.
In the Brazilian domestic market, the prices are estimated at $83/mt for the iron ore and $96/mt for the pellets, against respectively $82/mt and $94/mt previously, ex-works, no taxes included.