24 February 2023 – Iron ore prices are well above the level of the last 5 years. A rise to $150 per tonne possible. Steel is getting scarcer. China’s property market is coming back. And can the start of Asian overnight trading in nickel save the LME?
Iron ore prices rise, mining falls back
On the Singapore futures exchange, the contract for iron ore for delivery in the following month traded yesterday at around 127 US dollars per tonne, about 65 percent higher than at the beginning of November.
The main reason for this is strong demand for the iron ore needed to make steel following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions in China. Daily steel production has increased by six per cent since the beginning of February. Work has resumed at many construction sites in China after the New Year holidays.
Iron ore exports in 2023 only at previous year’s level?
Looking at the supply side, the world’s five largest iron ore producers announced planned exports for 2023 only at the previous year’s level, which was significantly below market estimates. The strongest growth in construction activity in China is not expected until the second half of the year, so iron ore prices should remain supported in the medium term. The current price level is already well above the average of the last five years, which should benefit producers.
Iron ore: Up to $150 per tonne possible
Goldman Sachs analysts are currently even predicting that iron ore prices could rise to as much as $150 per tonne in Q2 2023.
US steel market hit by shortage again
The US steel market is currently again affected by a significant shortage. Service centres and distributors in particular do not seem to be able to get any spot market offers from the large mills at the moment.
Steel shortage, Turkey earthquake further aggravates situation
The global shortage of steel, now exacerbated by the earthquake in Turkey, and the ongoing war in the important steel producing country of Ukraine, further exacerbate this. In addition, many US but also European steel producers had cut back, if not completely shut down, production due to high energy costs.
Buyers steered in the wrong direction
Many analysts and so-called industry experts had still predicted overproduction for 2023 at the end of 2022 and thus steered many buyers of flat-rolled steel products in the wrong direction. The media’s attempts to shift this misjudgement onto the buyers alone is regrettable and simply wrong.
Recovery signs on the Chinese real estate market
New home prices in China rose in January for the first time in a year, according to Deutsche Bank data. However, the increase was only 0.1 per cent and was only compared to the previous month. Year-on-year, the decline was still 1.5 per cent. Weekly data, however, point to a continuation of the recovery in February. New home sales rose 30 and 11 per cent year-on-year in calendar weeks six and seven, respectively.
More government action for sector?
Furthermore, Beijing may decide to adopt further support measures to shore up the beleaguered property sector at the National People’s Congress, which begins on 5 March and is expected to confirm this year’s growth target of five per cent. Since the end of last year, the authorities have already taken several measures, such as promoting property financing and lowering mortgage rates for first-time home buyers.
Positive signals from private consumption
Further positive signals can be expected from China’s private household sector, which should lead to an improvement in incomes and thus also in demand as the pandemic measures are lifted.
Demand for scarce commodities continues to rise?
The revival in the property market is also a good sign for suppliers of construction materials such as cement, steel, aluminium and stainless steel. However, this could put further pressure on the availability on the raw materials market – especially in view of the already prevailing shortages of steel.
Nickel: LME wants to re-enter Asian trading in March
The London Metal Exchange (LME) plans to re-enter overnight trading of nickel in Asia from 20 March 2023. This is reported by the LME on its website.
Whether this can help the ailing LME out of its crisis – especially in nickel trading – remains to be seen. The pressure from regulators, market participants, suppliers and competitors has recently increased strongly. The announcement by the CME to launch its own nickel contract had put the LME under pressure. In our opinion, the illegal and unjustified suspension of nickel trading in March 2022 has only hurt the LME.
Current nickel development unrealistic
In our view, the nickel development in the last few days is also unrealistic and not really relevant for the market. With the possible withdrawal of nickel from the EU market, together with the burden on the important category 1 nickel supplier due to a lack of equipment and the associated decline in production, the reviving Chinese economy, together with the major environmental problem with Indonesian nickel and the possible export restrictions on Philippine nickel, the actual market price should be significantly higher. And that’s not even taking into account the shortfalls lost to the Trafigura scam.
“In the medium term, the LME will most likely lose its dominance and relevance in nickel trading – it has set the course for this itself,” Thorsten Gerber, CEO of the Gerber Group, said today.
Latest news
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We at the Gerber Group have been trading in stainless steel worldwide for over 20 years. We are your experts when it comes to purchasing, import, logistics and services. Information is a vital part of this. Because only then can you and we make the right decisions. Do you have any questions? Contact us now.
Disclaimer: Many things here represent our opinion. Others are information from the Internet. We can therefore never claim to be correct or complete. And never base a business decision solely on the news you receive from us.
