Premiums for index-linked cargoes of high-grade iron ore fines in the seaborne market are picking up strength with Chinese mills seeing their profitability improve ahead of the Chinese New Year.
Key drivers Cargoes of the most-liquid Pilbara Blend fines sold against an index are carrying a premium of about $1.50 per tonne this week, compared with $1-1.20 per tonne last week.Several trading sources pegged the tradable premium for cargoes of Pilbara Blend fines for shipment in early and mid-February at $1.50 per tonne against the February average of a 62% Fe index and that for Newman fines at $2.50 per tonne. February-delivery cargoes of 57.1% Fe Yandi fines was heard offered at the...