[China Iron Ore Brief] Iron ore concentrate prices in the Tangshan area may be in the doldrums

Published: Jun 16, 2026 17:11

Save

[China Iron Ore Brief] This week, the EXW price of 64% grade alkaline concentrates on a dry basis, before tax, from Shandong miners was reported at 836, down 11, with steel mills cutting prices in line. Miners mostly maintained normal production, but some saw inventory buildup, mainly influenced by fewer transport vehicles and the higher cost-effectiveness of imported ore, resulting in overall sluggish sales. On the steel mill side, profit margins narrowed significantly, leading to a stronger desire to bargain down prices, with procurement of domestic iron ore largely need-based. Considering that iron ore futures fluctuated and strengthened today, this is likely to boost local iron ore concentrate prices.

In the Tangshan region, prices for iron ore concentrates are relatively stable. Local operations remain at a low level, and overall iron ore concentrate resources are relatively tight. Some concentrators, considering costs, hold firm on their asking prices or even push them higher, but buyers' enthusiasm for purchasing has not improved significantly. Currently, domestic iron ore concentrates have relatively weak cost-effectiveness, and caution persists especially toward high-priced resources. However, recently iron ore futures have weakened, and the overall market bearish sentiment is strong. In the short term, it is difficult for local iron ore concentrate prices to rise, and it is estimated that local iron ore prices will remain in the doldrums with fluctuations in the short term. [SMM Steel Mill]

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 for 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

5 hours ago

[SMM Hot-rolled Coil Daily Transactions] Spot market transactions continue to pull back

[SMM Hot-rolled Coil Daily Transactions] On June 17, the total daily trading volume of hot-rolled coil from sample enterprises in SMM's four cities (Shanghai, Lecong, Tianjin, Ningbo) was 13,160 mt, down 830 mt or 5.5% DoD, up 23.11% YoY (solar calendar), and up 23.11% YoY (lunar calendar).

5 hours ago

MMi Daily Iron Ore Report (June 17)

The DCE iron ore futures continued to decline today, with the benchmark I2609 contract finally closing at 747.5 yuan/ton, down 2.61% from the previous session and extending losses markedly.

5 hours ago

6.17 SMM Global Steel Daily Report

Seaborne import and domestic billet trading in Turkey have both slowed down, weighed by expectations surrounding the US-Iran peace agreement and persistently weak local demand. The market broadly anticipates that if the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens, lower freight rates and an influx of Iranian material will reshape the regional supply landscape, prompting most buyers to adopt a wait-and-see approach in hopes of securing lower procurement costs. On the import front, offers from two major Russian mills remain firm at 493-495 USD/tonne FOB, but Turkish buyers are only bidding at 500-505 USD/tonne CFR. The domestic market is equally under pressure; dragged down by falling scrap and rebar prices, the price for Turkish domestic billets has dropped by 10 USD/tonne to 530 USD/tonne EXW, reflecting a continuously sluggish trading sentiment.

5 hours ago