MMi Daily Iron Ore Report (November 17)

The domestic ore market in Liaodong was generally stable today. Buyers were cautious in their inquiries, purchasing only for immediate needs, but some sellers held back from selling and held prices firm, reluctant to accept offers below their psychological expectations. Both sides were in a stalemate and stood on the sidelines, with trading thin. Demand side, steel mills were mostly incurring losses and had a strong desire to bargain down prices. Combined with maintenance at some mills, demand weakened in phases, exerting strong restraint on ore prices. However, ROM supply remained tight, and in the absence of notable positive external drivers, local ore processors had no production resumption plans in the near term.

In the second quarter of 2026, coal volumes transported by major eastern US railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern increased by 5% and 4%, respectively. However, their domestic coal shipments fell by 2% and 8%, while export volumes rose by 12% and 25%. The figures show that growth in US coal transportation was driven mainly by overseas demand rather than domestic power-sector consumption. Although the US government has introduced measures to support coal, including regulatory rollbacks and efforts to delay coal-plant retirements, coal consumption for electricity generation remained below year-earlier levels from January through May as natural gas and solar continued to displace coal. Weak domestic demand is likely to limit upside in US thermal coal prices, while stronger exports may provide some support to Appalachian thermal and metallurgical coal. However, increased US export supply could also limit gains in international coal prices.

Un trabajador, que se cree rondaba los 50 años, falleció tras ser atropellado por un camión en la mina de carbón a cielo abierto United Wambo, en Nueva Gales del Sur, Australia. La mina, situada a unos 23 kilómetros al oeste de Singleton, es operada conjuntamente por Glencore y Peabody. Las operaciones mineras han sido suspendidas mientras la policía, los organismos reguladores y los representantes sindicales de seguridad investigan el incidente, y se preparará un informe para el forense. Una paralización prolongada podría reducir la producción de carbón a corto plazo y brindar cierto respaldo a los mercados relacionados con el carbón. Sin embargo, no se ha proporcionado información sobre la duración de la suspensión, las pérdidas de producción ni los grados de carbón afectados, por lo que es demasiado pronto para evaluar el impacto en el carbón térmico, el carbón de coque o los precios.