[China Iron Ore Brief] Next week, domestic ore prices may be in the doldrums and fluctuate.

This week, domestic iron ore concentrates prices edged down. By region, prices in Tangshan, Qian'an, and Qianxi in Hebei were basically flat; those in Chaoyang, Beipiao, and Jianping in western Liaoning edged down 1-5 yuan/mt; and east China also saw a decline of 10-15 yuan/mt.

Looking ahead to next week, according to SMM tracking data, hot metal production of steel mill blast furnaces is expected to increase, providing some support for concentrates demand. However, given continuously narrowing steel mill profits and weak iron ore futures, domestic iron ore concentrates prices are expected to remain in a weak and stable oscillating pattern. [SMM Steel]