[China Iron Ore Brief] Iron Ore Concentrates Prices in West Liaoning May Remain in the Doldrums

Published: Apr 28, 2026 17:54

Save

[Domestic Iron Ore Brief Review] Prices in the western Liaoning domestic ore market remained relatively stable, with ex-factory prices of 66-grade iron ore concentrates on a wet basis and tax-exclusive at 735-740 yuan/mt. Market transactions continued to be weak. Affected by inspections, local raw material ore was in undersupply, and some producers found it difficult to resume production. Meanwhile, operating producers, supported by strong costs, were reluctant to make shipments at low prices. However, traders were cautious in purchase, with limited purchase willingness.

[SMM Domestic Ore Brief]
Domestic ore market prices in western Liaoning remained relatively stable, with ex-factory prices of 66-grade iron ore concentrates (wet basis, tax-exclusive) at 735-740 yuan/mt. Market transactions continued to be weak. Affected by inspections, local raw material ore was in undersupply, and some producers had difficulty resuming production. Operating producers, supported by strong costs, refused to make shipments at low prices. However, traders were cautious in purchases with limited purchase willingness, and overall market transactions were relatively sluggish. Iron ore futures weakened slightly today, which may undermine confidence in domestic ore prices. In the short term, local iron ore concentrates prices are expected to remain in the doldrums. [SMM Steel]

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

11 hours ago

https://cafef.vn/viet-nam-don-tin-vui-cung-luc-tu-my-va-nga-18826050409252441.chn

[SMM Steel] Vietnam exported 2.94 mln tons of steel in Q1 2026, up nearly 7% YoY, with March shipments reaching 1.03 mln tons (+23% MoM). The United States remained the largest market, with exports rising 32% YoY, while shipments to Russia surged over 830%, albeit from a low base. Strong growth was also seen in India and Southeast Asia. However, exports continue to face mounting pressure from trade protection measures, including US Section 232 tariffs and EU CBAM and quota restrictions, pushing Vietnamese producers to rely more on domestic demand. Supported by infrastructure investment and real estate recovery, Vietnam’s steel consumption is expected to grow 5–8% in 2026, positioning the domestic market as the key growth driver.

11 hours ago

[SMM Steel] Morocco extends safeguard on HRC imports, posing new hurdle for Vietnam exports

[SMM Steel] Morocco has notified the World Trade Organization of its plan to extend safeguard measures on hot-rolled steel imports for another three years (Jun 2026–Jun 2029), maintaining an additional 19% tariff. The move aims to protect domestic producers from rising import pressure. The extension could weigh on Vietnamese steel exports, requiring exporters to reassess pricing strategies, cost structures, and market positioning. Industry authorities advise firms to diversify export markets and closely monitor trade remedy developments to mitigate risks.

11 hours ago

[SMM Steel] Nucor posts record shipments in Q1 on strong demand and project ramp-up

[SMM Steel] Nucor Corporation reported record quarterly steel shipments of 7.4 mln short tons in Q1 2026, up 8.7% YoY, marking the highest level in its history. Orders also reached 4.7 mln short tons, the strongest since Q2 2021. The performance reflects solid mill execution and contributions from new capacity, alongside strong demand from data centers and the energy sector. Nucor expects full-year shipments to grow by over 5%, supported by favorable demand conditions and ongoing trade protection measures.

11 hours ago