BHP(US:BHP) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-16 06:26Core Insights - BHP has agreed to use RMB for 30% of its iron ore trade with China, marking a significant shift in international settlement currencies and challenging the dominance of the US dollar in commodity markets [1][3][7] Group 1: Trade Dynamics - China Mineral Resources Group has instructed domestic buyers to halt all dollar-denominated purchases of BHP iron ore, allowing only RMB transactions, which demonstrates China's strong bargaining power in the iron ore market [3] - BHP's long-term contract pricing negotiations revealed a divergence in pricing mechanisms, with BHP proposing a fixed price of $109.5 per ton while China advocated for a market-driven floating price [3] - China's iron ore imports represent nearly 40% of the global market, with an annual volume of approximately 1.1 billion tons, enhancing its negotiating leverage [3] Group 2: Economic Impact - The shift to RMB settlement is expected to save Chinese steel mills about $8 per ton in transaction costs, translating to significant financial savings for large-scale importers [5] - BHP is projected to benefit from improved cash flow and an annual revenue increase of approximately $210 million due to the RMB settlement [5] Group 3: Infrastructure and Support - The Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) has fully integrated RMB settlement for iron ore trade, facilitating smoother transactions and reducing exchange rate risks [5][14] - CIPS processed transactions worth 90.19 trillion yuan in the first half of 2025, covering 189 countries, which supports the growing adoption of RMB in international trade [5] Group 4: Global Trends - As of 2025, RMB settlements accounted for 25% of China's iron ore imports, with significant shares in trade with Brazil (28%) and Russia (48%) [7] - The global iron ore trade, valued at $1.2 trillion in 2025, is predominantly dollar-denominated, but BHP's move signals a potential shift in this paradigm [7] - The trend towards de-dollarization is accelerating, with various countries exploring alternative currencies for international trade [7][10] Group 5: Future Prospects - The introduction of RMB-denominated iron ore futures by the London Metal Exchange in 2026 and the establishment of a RMB pricing index by JPMorgan are indicative of a broader acceptance of RMB in commodity pricing [7][12] - The potential for a stable RMB settlement mechanism in commodity markets could reshape the international monetary system and challenge the existing dollar-centric framework [16]