Chinese importers yesterday agreed to a 19 per cent rise in the price of iron
ore, the second biggest increase in 25 years.
Shanghai Baosteel Group, representing Chinese iron ore importers in talks
with major international suppliers, accepted the price rise from BHP Billiton,
the world's largest resources company.
BHP Billiton issued a statement confirming it reached agreement with Chinese
customers on prices for contracted iron ore tonnage for the 2006 contract year.
"Prices increased by 19 per cent over prices negotiated in respect of the
2005 year across the range of lump and fines iron ore products supplied by BHP
Billiton," it said.
The price rise had been agreed a couple of weeks ago by some European,
Japanese and other Asian steel producers.
It means Chinese iron ore importers will have to pay about 10 billion yuan
(US$1.25 billion) more each year.
Chinese steelmakers will sign contracts with Brazil's Cia Vale do Rio Doce
(CVRD), and the London-based Rio Tinto Group, the world's other two major iron
ore producers, in one or two days, said an unnamed source close to the
situation.
CVRD, BHP Billiton and Rio account for 75 per cent of global seaborne iron
ore trade.
The Chinese firms' talks with suppliers had been prolonged for weeks compared
with other iron ore buyers.
Chinese firms had insisted that suppliers should take into account the high
demand of the Chinese market, and suggested a lower price.
The nation's steelmakers, which account for 43 per cent of global imports of
iron ore, tried to set prices after a record increase in 2005. But their
bargaining position weakened on May 16 when Germany's ThyssenKrupp AG became the
first steelmaker globally to agree to the new price.
The 19 per cent hike is the second-biggest price jump in 25 years, according
to ABN Amro. It follows a record 71.5 per cent rise in 2005.
Although Baosteel failed to get a favourable result, the talks still set a
good example, said Mei Xinyu, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of
International Trade and Economic Co-operation of the Ministry of Commerce.
"It is the first time domestic iron ore importers have asked for Chinese
factors to be considered during iron ore negotiations," he said. "And in order
to gain more say for China, they should stick to collective negotiation in the
future."
In the past Chinese iron ore importers and steel makers negotiated the iron
ore price separately, which often resulted in speculation in pricing.
Chinese buyers were forced to accept the sharp price rise last year.
Mei also noted that Chinese negotiators should pay more attention to issues
such as reform of the domestic steel industry and collaboration with other major
buyers.
"They (Chinese firms) are less experienced compared with their negotiation
rivals, who have controlled the market for years," he said.
Chinese imports of iron ore rose by 23.5 per cent to 108 million tons in the
first four months of this year.
(China Daily 06/21/2006 page1)
