Demand for imports buoys iron ore deliveries from Tangshan ports

SHANGHAI, Dec 21 (SMM) – Stricter production curbs on sintering machines across Tangshan mills tightened the supply of sintered ore, and buoyed mills' demand for imported iron ore. This increased average deliveries departing ports in Tangshan this week.  

In Tangshan, daily average deliveries leaving Caofeidian port rallied by some 50,000 mt on the week, and cargoes departing Jingtang port per day rebounded above 300,000 mt. 

These raised average daily deliveries of iron ore leaving 35 major Chinese ports by 67,000 mt from a week ago, to 2.51 million mt as of Friday December 21. 

Stocks across the 35 ports accumulated by 160,000 mt from a week ago to stand at 128.38 million mt as of Friday, SMM data showed. 

SMM expects seaborne arrivals during December 20-26 in Tangshan to extend the increase in port inventories.