🐂 Not all bull runs are created equal. November’s AI picks include 5 stocks up +20% eachUnlock Stocks

UPDATE 1-Steel, iron ore futures rally as China steps up capacity cuts

Published 10/01/2017, 06:43 pm
Updated 10/01/2017, 06:50 pm
© Reuters.  UPDATE 1-Steel, iron ore futures rally as China steps up capacity cuts

* Dalian iron ore surges 8 pct, Shanghai rebar climbs 7 pct

* Both commodities hit their exchange-set ceiling

* Hebei plans to cut 32 mln tonnes of steelmaking capacity (Updates prices)

By Manolo Serapio Jr

MANILA, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Shanghai steel futures jumped 7 percent to their highest in nearly three weeks on Tuesday, supported by promises from China's top steelmaking province to further reduce production capacity.

Raw material iron ore followed steel's rally, soaring 8 percent to its strongest in more than three weeks, with coking coal climbing nearly 8 percent.

Hebei, which accounts for about a quarter of China's total steel output, plans to slash 31.86 million tonnes of steel and ironmaking capacity this year, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. would be more than double the 14.62 million tonnes of steel capacity that Hebei cut last year.

"While smog concerns still threaten to lower steel output, a drive to cut outdated steel capacity is also pressuring production lower," Commonwealth Bank of Australia analyst Vivek Dhar said in a note.

The most-active rebar on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SRBcv1 closed up 7 percent at the exchange-set ceiling of 3,167 yuan ($457)a tonne, its highest since Dec. 22.

A better outlook for the Chinese economy also bodes well for steel prices, said Helen Lau, analyst at Argonaut Securities.

"Overall, the stable downstream demand and reduced supply boost positive sentiment towards steel markets," said Lau.

China's economic growth last year was expected to be around 6.7 percent, said Xu Shaoshi, director of the National Development and Reform Commission. Beijing had targeted growth of 6.5-7.0 percent. also said China's steel and coal sectors will face increasing pressure this year to cut capacity as the government ramps up efforts to tackle polluting heavy industries and address a glut. rally lifted iron ore futures and could help stretch gains for spot iron ore prices.

Iron ore on the Dalian Commodity Exchange DCIOcv1 jumped 8 percent to end at 594 yuan a tonne, also hitting the upside limit and strongest level since Dec. 16.

Iron ore for delivery to China's Qingdao port .IO62-CNO=MB climbed 1.9 percent to $77.73 a tonne on Monday, according to Metal Bulletin.

Also swept up in Tuesday's rally were coking coal DJMcv1 , which rose 7.8 percent to 1,268 yuan a tonne, and coke DCJcv1 , which soared 9 percent to hit the day's upside limit of 1,687 yuan.

($1 = 6.9257 Chinese yuan)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.