- Mills resume procurement amid improving spot availability
- Chinese BF mills raise hot metal output 5.2%
China’s iron ore imports stood at 103.9 million tonnes, slightly higher by 0.7% compared with the same month last year, the GACC data showed. The volumes were marginally lower by 0.8% from March’26.
China imported a total of 418.6 million tonnes (mnt) of iron ore during January-April 2026, up 8% year on year, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) on May 9.
The relatively steady import volumes in April were supported by seasonal improvement in shipments from major global suppliers, particularly Australia and Brazil, following weather-related disruptions earlier in the year.
Mills ramp up output: Mysteel’s tracking of the 247 Chinese blast-furnace (BF) steelmakers it regularly checks showed that their combined average output of hot metal per day in April rose by 5.2% from the March average to reach 2.39 million tonnes/day.
Mills basically ramped up their production in response to an uptick in consumption among steel end-users, while improving weather conditions over urban centers such as Tangshan in northern China led to fewer production curbs being imposed by local governments concerned about atmospheric pollution.
Global iron ore prices stable: Iron ore fines (Fe 61%, Australia origin) prices remained largely stable m-o-m at $107/dmt CFR China in April. At the end of the month, prices eased as earlier supply concerns over restricted portside cargoes subsided, allowing mills to resume trading and procurement of these cargoes upon meeting specified requirements.
Decline in port stocks: Port-stock prices also declined, amid expectations that previously restricted volumes would gradually re-enter the market and lift spot availability. Iron ore port inventories stood at 160 mnt at 34 major ports; lowest since mid-January.
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