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关注节前补库铁矿震荡反弹
Tong Guan Jin Yuan Qi Huo·2025-09-08 02:37
  1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Views of the Report - In August, iron ore demand slightly declined from its peak but remained resilient. The daily average pig iron output of steel mills was over 2.4 million tons, with a month - on - month decrease of 0.6 million tons and a year - on - year increase of 192,000 tons. In September, driven by the "Golden September and Silver October" peak season expectation, iron ore demand will still be resilient [3][40]. - In August, the overall supply was stable with a slight increase. Both monthly shipments and arrivals were at the highest levels of the year. Seasonally, September shipments are expected to decline month - on - month, while the arrival intensity in September will increase both year - on - year and month - on - month [3][41]. - In the next month, focus on the impact of steel mills' phased restocking on the market. With a 90% probability of a Fed rate cut in September, after the end of parade - related production restrictions, northern blast furnaces will resume production, increasing phased restocking demand. As the National Day holiday approaches, there is still restocking expectation in mid - to - late September. With the improvement of supply - demand margins, iron ore is expected to show an oscillating rebound trend, but the upside is limited by high steel inventories and weak terminal demand. The price range to watch is 700 - 890 yuan/ton [3][41]. 3. Summary by Directory 3.1 Market Review - In August, iron ore futures showed an overall oscillating and strengthening trend, remaining relatively firm under the background of both supply and demand decline. In early August, the futures price rebounded due to better - than - expected steel demand in the off - season and strong exports. In mid - August, the iron ore price dropped as steel downstream demand was insufficient. In late August, iron ore was resistant to decline as its demand remained high. In September, pig iron output will remain resilient, and the "Golden September and Silver October" expectation will support the iron ore price, but the weak terminal demand pattern remains unchanged [8]. - The spot price oscillated with a slight increase. As of early September, the 62% Platts Index rose 2.6% to $102.7, and the PB powder spot price rose 1 yuan to 769 yuan/wet ton. The spread between high - and low - grade ores weakened. The spread between PB powder and Super Special powder dropped from over 120 yuan/ton to around 100 yuan/ton. The spread between the 09 - 01 contracts weakened last month and then rebounded in September [8]. 3.2 Fundamental Analysis 3.2.1 Demand with High - level Fine - tuning and Overall Strong Resilience - In August, iron ore demand slightly declined from its peak but remained resilient. The capacity utilization rate of 247 blast furnaces was above 90%, and the daily average pig iron output of steel mills was over 2.4 million tons. The steel mill profitability rate slightly declined from 64.94% to 63.64%, remaining at a high level in recent years, supporting high - level pig iron output. In September, iron ore demand will still be resilient, and attention should be paid to the actual realization of terminal demand and changes in steel mill profits [10]. - Overseas, the probability of a Fed rate cut in September increased to 90%. The crude steel output of major iron ore importing countries declined significantly. In July 2025, the crude steel output of 70 countries/regions included in the World Steel Association statistics decreased by 1.3% year - on - year [11]. 3.2.2 Supply: Overseas Shipments Stable with an Increase - From January to July, China's iron ore imports decreased year - on - year. In August, the overall supply was stable with a slight increase, and both monthly shipments and arrivals were at the highest levels of the year. The weekly average shipments from Australia and Brazil were 24 million tons. Seasonally, September shipments are expected to decline month - on - month, while the arrival intensity in September will increase both year - on - year and month - on - month [15]. 3.2.3 Iron Ore Port Inventory - In the previous month, the iron ore inventory at 45 ports in China decreased slightly month - on - month, remaining at a moderately high level overall but showing a differentiated structure. As of early September, the total iron ore inventory at 45 ports was 138.25 million tons. The overall high iron ore inventory has limited support for the iron ore price [18]. 3.2.4 Steel Mill Inventory Situation - The iron ore inventory of steel mills decreased slightly. As of early September, the total inventory of imported iron ore in steel mills was 89.39 million tons. Steel mills' profitability at a high level this year drives restocking. After the end of production restrictions and as the National Day holiday approaches, there is restocking expectation, which will support the spot price. Currently, steel mills maintain low - inventory management [31]. 3.2.5 Domestic Mine Production Situation - The operating rate and capacity utilization rate of domestic mines are at a neutral level in recent years, with a low possibility of significant short - term production increase. As of early September, the daily average concentrate output of 186 domestic mines was 452,000 tons, and the mine concentrate inventory was 681,500 tons [35]. 3.2.6 Freight Situation - In August, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) adjusted slightly. As of September 3, the BDI index was 1940 points. The freight rates of the Australian and Brazilian routes to Qingdao increased. Currently, the freight rates are at a medium - to - high level within the year, but the upside may be limited due to unstable global macro - demand [37]. 3.3 Market Outlook - Demand side: In August, iron ore demand slightly declined from its peak but remained resilient. In September, driven by the "Golden September and Silver October" peak season expectation, iron ore demand will still be resilient. Attention should be paid to the actual realization of terminal demand and changes in steel mill profits [40]. - Supply side: In August, the overall supply was stable with a slight increase. Seasonally, September shipments are expected to decline month - on - month, while the arrival intensity in September will increase both year - on - year and month - on - month. In the next month, with the improvement of supply - demand margins, iron ore is expected to show an oscillating rebound trend, but the upside is limited by high steel inventories and weak terminal demand. The price range to watch is 700 - 890 yuan/ton [41].