Tuesday, December 22, 2009

High Spot Prices Fuel Benchmark Price Hike Speculation

The annual iron ore benchmark talks for fiscal 2010 are coming and spot iron ore prices have hit a record high. But some investment banks have raised their forecast increase on the long-term iron ore contract price for next year owing to the robust demand from China and other regions in the world.

On December 20th 2009, the spot price for iron ore with 62% Fe content soared to USD 107.40 per tonne including freight rate, about 47% higher than the benchmark for fiscal 2009 touched on by Rio Tinto and Japanese steel makers.

Though the benchmark will be certainly lower than the spot market price for iron ore, the top three miners will have more confidence in the annual talks as the spot price keeps on climbing.

Mr Jim Lennon a Macquarie analysts said that Australian benchmark iron ore prices might rise by 30%, comparing with their previous estimate for a 10% gain in annual talk for fiscal 2010. He also predicted that the spot iron ore price may rise continuously during the following several months to USD 120 to USD 130 per tonne based on strong recovery beyond China.

JP Morgan also foresaw that benchmark iron ore price would climb up by 20% for fiscal 2010 and by 30% and 10% for fiscal 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Source: MySteel/Steel Guru

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