The price of the Brazilian high-grade iron ore, 65 percent iron contents, was $134/mt on May 13, against $135/mt on May 6, CFR China.
According to sources, the stability could reflect perspectives of lower shipments arriving in China from Australia, due to internal problems with railroad transportation in Australia, although the impact of such shortage on prices is not clear yet.
The export price of blast furnace grade pellets is $146/mt, against $148/mt, previously, reflecting the same 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 8.7 percent, against 8.3 percent previously, 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 $104/mt for the iron ore and $117/mt for the pellets, against respectively $107/mt and $120/mt previously, ex-works, no taxes included.
Such prices were negatively affected by higher Brazil –China sea freight rates, as the domestic prices are based on FOB prices, having CFR China as reference.
In April, Brazil exported 27.20 million mt of iron ore (pellets excluded) and 2.50 million mt of pellets.
The main destinations of the iron ore were Asia (23.14 million mt, of which 19.96 million mt to China), Europe (2.00 million mt), the Middle East (1.82 million mt) and South America (216,600 mt).
The main destinations of the pellets were Africa (803,000 mt), Asia (741,300 mt), Europe (444,300 mt), the US (260,200 mt), Argentina (171,000 mt) and Trinidad and Tobago (82,200 mt).