Dalian ore futures prices tumbled to log their steepest daily fall in almost two years on Monday, weighed down by a batch of dismal economic data from top consumer China.
The most-traded January iron ore contract on China’s Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) DCIOcv1 ended daytime trade 4.36% lower at 723.5 yuan ($101.83) a metric ton, posting its largest daily loss since Oct. 31, 2022.
The contract hit an intraday low of 721.5 yuan, its weakest level since Aug. 26.
The benchmark October iron ore SZZFV4 on the Singapore Exchange was 4.14% lower at $96.85 a ton, as of 0715 GMT.
China’s manufacturing activity sank to a six-month low in August as factory gate prices tumbled and owners struggled for orders, the National Bureau of Statistics purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed on Saturday, pressuring policymakers to press on with plans to direct more stimulus to households.
Prices of new homes in China rose at slower pace in August, a private survey showed on Sunday, as the crisis-hit property sector struggles to find its bottom after a slew of supportive policies.
The weaker PMI data, which includes the steel industry, shows the sector has obvious off-season characteristics, as market demand continues to decline and steel production is reduced, Chinese financial information site Hexun Futures said in a note.
Alongside an expected rise in supply, China’s steel exports may come under threat as tensions rise with trade partners, said ANZ analysts.
China’s new export orders fell for the first time in eight months and at the fastest pace since November 2023, a private sector survey showed on Monday.
Other steelmaking ingredients on the DCE lost further ground, with coking coal DJMcv1 and coke DCJcv1 down 3.66% and 3.52%, respectively.
Most steel benchmarks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange were weaker. Stainless steel SHSScv1 slid nearly 2.4%, rebar SRBcv1 lost 2%, hot-rolled coil SHHCcv1 declined around 1.8%, while wire rod SWRcv1 was flat.
Source: Reuters