According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, production in June alone dropped by 8.4% y-o-y to 88.97 million tonnes. However, a modest m-o-m increase of 3.7% was observed.
Despite the decline in domestic output, a contrasting picture emerged on the import side. In June, China’s iron ore imports rose by 8% compared to the previous month, reaching 105.95 million tonnes—the highest monthly level in 2025. This development indicates that steel producers turned to foreign sources due to insufficient local supply. However, total imports for the first half of the year amounted to approximately 592 million tonnes, about 3% lower than in the same period last year.
Iron ore prices also showed volatility in June. The lowest price during the month was recorded at $92/ton on June 18, while the highest level was $96/ton on June 1–2. Spot prices mostly fluctuated within a narrow range, with no significant supply tightness observed.
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