Iron ore price sees biggest weekly gain since March on China demand optimism

Beijing authorities said the capital will resume public transport in most districts, restart dine-in restaurant services and allow workers to return to offices. This comes after the city achieved zero new community cases in most of its 16 districts.

The steel-making ingredient shot through $140 a tonne last week after spending most of May fluctuating around $130 a tonne.

Benchmark 62% Fe fines imported into Northern China rose 1.8% Monday morning, to $144.55 per tonne.

Futures in Dalian climbed 1.1% after a trading pause for a public holiday on Friday.

Iron ore inventories at major ports plunged to their lowest levels for the year, reaching an eight-month low, according to Steelhome data.

And steelmaking margins are expanding again after shrinking to a 15-month low in May.

Still, investors will likely await firmer signs that China’s cities won’t move back into lockdowns again given the country’s Zero Covid policy. And any production curbs on steel will also be monitored after an earlier pledge for output to drop again this year, Baocheng Futures wrote in a note.