* China's Linfen city also sets steel output curbs - ANZ
* China auto sales fall in Sept; turnaround hopes fade
* Market awaits Vale's quarterly iron ore output report
* China's Sept iron ore imports surge to 20-month high
* Steelmakers' margins to deteriorate as prices slump (Recasts and updates with China auto sales, closing prices, chart)
By Enrico Dela Cruz
MANILA, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Benchmark Dalian iron ore and coke futures slumped more than 2% in late trade on Monday following growing concerns about demand for the steelmaking raw materials, amid China's renewed efforts to curb pollution by restricting steel mills operations.
Adding to the worries, industry data released on Monday showed auto sales in China fell for a 15th consecutive month in September, dampening hopes for a second-half turnaround in the world's largest auto market. Commodity Exchange's most-traded iron ore contract DCIOcv1 , with January 2020 expiry, ended down 2.4% at 638.50 yuan ($90.41) a tonne.
"Traders have been wary of the impact of ongoing restrictions on steel mills in China," said Daniel Hynes, senior commodity strategist at ANZ.
China's top steelmaking city of Tangshan issued new anti-pollution restrictions on mill operations, effective from Oct. 10 to Oct. 31, according to industry websites.
Another Chinese city, Linfen, has also ordered steelmakers to stop sintering and pelletizing operations from Oct. 10, Hynes said.
As fresh steel production restrictions may curb iron ore demand in top steel producer and consumer China, market participants are also keeping an eye on supply-side issues.
Iron ore miner Vale SA VALE3.SA is set to release its quarterly output report this week, which may shed light on its progress to restart operations following a deadly dam disaster earlier this year, Hynes said.
The Brazilian mining regulator has shut 54 dams so far in the second half of 2019 due to lack of certification, including 17 owned by Vale, he said. Vale's reduced iron ore output has tightened global supply, pushing prices to five-year peaks in recent months.
China's spot 62% iron ore benchmark SH-CCN-IRNOR62 , which settled at $92.50 a tonne over the weekend, is still up 15% this year despite a 27% slump from its July 3 peak of $126.50 as supply worries eased, based on SteelHome consultancy data.
FUNDAMENTALS
* China's iron ore imports rose for a third straight month in September to a 20-month high, according to customs data released on Monday, as shipments from big miners stabilised. Imported iron ore stocks at Chinese ports stood at 129.95 million tonnes as of Oct. 14, latest SteelHome estimates showed, the highest since mid-May 2019.
* Steelmakers' margins are due to deteriorate in coming quarters despite a fall in the price of raw material iron ore because steel prices have also slumped, pressured by weak demand. The most-traded construction steel rebar on the Shanghai Futures Exchange SRBcv1 fell 1.3% to 3,352 yuan a tonne, the weakest since Aug. 30 this year.
* Hot-rolled steel coil SHHCcv1 , used in cars and home appliances, slipped 0.8% to 3,344 yuan a tonne, the lowest in almost seven weeks.
* Stainless steel SHSSc1 edged up 0.1% to 15,765 yuan a tonne.
* Dalian coking coal DJMcv1 dipped 1.2% to 1,233 yuan a tonne and Dalian coke DCJcv1 dropped 2.7% to 1,805 yuan.
($1 = 7.0624 yuan)
https://tmsnrt.rs/2poyDWD
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>