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LAUNCESTON, Australia, Dec 4 (Reuters) - The two main spot prices for iron ore diverged last week, with Singapore-traded contracts gaining but China's domestic futures posting a decline. The exchange said on Nov. 30 that it will continue to strengthen its supervision of iron ore futures to maintain what it termed the safe and stable operation of the market. But despite the travails of the property sector, China's iron ore imports have been relatively robust so far in 2023. In the same week last year iron ore stockpiles were 137.5 million metric tons and were 155.4 million in the same week on 2021. History suggests that the authorities can cool iron ore prices, but only for a relatively short period, especially if the market conditions are supportive for stronger prices.

Persons: Sonali Paul Organizations: Singapore Exchange, Dalian Commodity Exchange, National Development, Reform, it's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Singapore, Beijing, Dalian

The strength in iron ore is being driven by renewed optimism that China's vast property sector is emerging from the gloom of recent months. However, there are some fundamental reasons supporting iron ore, chief among them the low port inventories. Stockpiles at China's ports rose to 108.8 million metric tons in the week to Nov. 10, according to data from consultants SteelHome. This was up a modest 3.9 million metric tons from the previous week's 104.9 million, which was the lowest since October 2016. Stockpiles were 136 million metric tons in the same week in 2022 and 147.6 million in 2021, according to SteelHome data.

Persons: Ping, SteelHome, haven't, Miral Organizations: Dalian, Ping An Insurance, HK, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Singapore, Beijing

The exception among major commodities was copper, where imports of the unwrought metal were up in September from August, but down from the year earlier month. Copper imports were 480,426 metric tons in September, up from August's 473,330, but down 5.8% from 509,954 in September last year. For the first nine months of 2023, unwrought copper imports were down 9.5% to 3.99 million metric tons. Crude oil imports were 11.13 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, down from August's 12.4 million bpd, although it's worth noting that August was third strongest month on record. IRON ORE, COALIron ore imports dropped to 101.18 million metric tons in October, down 4.9% from August's 106.42 million, but it's worth noting that August was the strongest month since October 2020.

Persons: Aly, China's, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Port, Shanghai, China, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, August's

A stacker unloads iron ore onto a pile at a mine located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia December 2, 2013. China iron ore imports vs SGX priceIMPORTS SLIPThere are also signs that China's iron ore imports may soften in October, although that is most likely related to the week-long holidays at the start of the month. The last official reading on iron ore imports was August's customs figure of 106.42 million metric tons, which was the highest monthly total since October 2020. A further possible concern for iron ore imports is what policy China will adopt regarding steel production for the coming winter period. One possible bullish factor for iron ore is the continuing retreat of China's port inventories, which suggests scope to import more to boost stockpiles.

Persons: David Gray, doesn't, SteelHome, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China, HK, Garden, JPMorgan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Pilbara, Western Australia, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Beijing, Singapore, China's, China

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The spot price of iron ore has climbed to a five-month high amid improving sentiment and some supportive fundamentals in China, the world's top buyer of the steel raw material. China, which buys about 70% of global seaborne iron ore, imported 106.42 million metric tons in August, the most since October 2020, according to customs data. For the first eight months of the year, imports were 775.66 million metric tons, up 7.4% on the same period in 2022. The need to rebuild stockpiles and nascent signs of a recovery in the property sector do support the recent rally in iron ore prices. This works out at around 76.7 million metric tons a month, which is well below the 90.8 million produced in July.

Persons: It's, it's, SteelHome, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Dalian Commodity Exchange, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Singapore, July's, Beijing

Since March, seaborne imports of thermal coal have exceeded 28 million metric tons every month, except for the 27.63 million from June, according to Kpler. In 2022, seaborne imports of thermal coal only once breached the 24 million metric tons level, in November, and were below 20 million for eight of the 12 months. China's July coal production was 377.54 million metric tons, which was down 6.3% from June, with the lower output coming as China increases mine safety inspections. China thermal coal imports from Australia, Indonesia and RussiaAUSTRALIAN IMPORTSChina has returned to buying Australian thermal coal after Beijing ended its unofficial ban on such imports, imposed in mid-2020 amid a political dispute with Canberra. China's imports of Australian thermal coal are estimated at 4.89 million metric tons in August, down from a three-year high of 5.41 million.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Stephen Coates Organizations: Huawei, REUTERS, Rights, Newcastle Port, Argus, Indonesia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shenmu, Yulin city, Shaanxi, China, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Qinhuangdao, India, Indonesia, Russia AUSTRALIAN, Beijing, Canberra, Newcastle, Kpler

It's likely that the lower spot prices for iron ore in recent weeks are encouraging traders and steel mills to boost imports. The problems at Country Garden are stoking fears of contagion in China's property sector, which is facing a cash crunch. China iron ore imports vs priceLOANS TUMBLEAdding to the property woes was data released on Tuesday showing China's industrial output and retail sales slowed and undershot forecasts. Another potential factor supporting iron ore imports is the low state of port inventories, which last week dropped to the lowest in just over three years. They are also below the 138.6 million metric tons in the same week in 2022 and the 127.2 million in 2021.

Persons: Fortescue, David Gray, Refinitiv, It's, SteelHome, Robert Birsel Organizations: Port Hedland, REUTERS, HK, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Port, Pilbara, Western Australia, LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Beijing, Singapore, China's

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Bad news for China's economy appears to spell good news for commodities, with prices of copper and iron ore gaining on hopes for new stimulus measures after yet another weak indicator. Dalian Commodity Exchange contracts ended daytime trade 0.5% higher at 841.5 yuan per metric ton, snapping two sessions of declines. Imports are estimated at 101.39 million metric tons by commodity analysts Kpler and at 100.96 million by Refinitiv. If the official figure is in line with these estimates, it would be the strongest month for iron ore imports since January's 103.6 million metric tons. Inventories have dropped for five straight weeks and are now 10% below the 13.5 million metric tons for the same week in 2022.

Persons: Beijing's, Miral Organizations: PMI, London, Reuters Graphics, Singapore, Dalian, Exchange, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Beijing, Shanghai

The hope can be seen in the domestic iron ore price, with contracts on the Dalian Commodity Exchange outperforming Singapore futures. There are also some fundamental supports for the iron ore price, most noticeably declining inventories at China's ports. In the same week last year, inventories were at 128.3 million metric tonnes, or 1.6% above the current level. China iron ore imports vs SGX price:SOFT ECONOMIC DATACountering the positive indicators for iron ore demand is a raft of underwhelming economic data that shows China's rebound after ending its strict zero-COVID policy in December has been uneven. The weak data may actually boost iron ore sentiment, as investors will expect further stimulus measures from Beijing.

Persons: SteelHome, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Dalian, Exchange, China Iron and Steel Association, National Bureau of Statistics, Retail, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Beijing, Singapore, Dalian, April's

To be sure, China's imports of thermal coal from Australia, the world's second-biggest coal exporter, still lag well behind the 19.29 million tonnes in April from top supplier Indonesia. Australian thermal coal also tends to head to southern ports, but the grade most often imported by China has a higher energy content than those from Indonesia, meaning Australian fuel tends to compete directly with local supplies. China and India imports of Australian thermal coalINDIA SWITCHES TO SOUTH AFRICAWhile China has been snapping up Australian thermal coal, volumes being shipped to India, the world's second-largest importer, have been slipping. India's total imports of thermal coal are expected to rise to 14.77 million tonnes in April, with Indonesia taking the lion's share at 9.66 million tonnes. As Australian thermal coal has left India's import mix, imports from rivals such as South Africa have moved higher.

The spot price for benchmark 62% iron ore for delivery to north China , as assessed by commodity price reporting agency Argus, dropped to $110.25 a tonne on April 21, the lowest since Dec. 20. China produces just over half of the world's steel and buys more than 70% of seaborne iron ore, with the main exporters being Australia, Brazil and South Africa. It's also the case the outlook for iron ore demand in China is not particularly clear cut, with some positive macro drivers but also areas of concern. This implies that steel mills may be looking to increase iron ore imports, especially if they plan to keep production at relatively high levels. Overall, the outlook for China's iron ore and steel demand is less assured than it was at the start of the year, when optimism over the economic re-opening abounded.

China's coal imports leapt to a three-year high in March, with official data showing arrivals of 41.17 million tonnes, up 151% from the same month in 2022. China's coal imports from Australia were 2.73 million tonnes, with 2.13 million assessed as the thermal grade used in power plants, with 417,576 tonnes being coking coal used to make steel. Chinese utilities used to be major buyers of Australian thermal coal with an energy content of 5,500 kilocalories per kg (kcal/kg). This advantage is driving Chinese buying of Australian coal, with Kpler estimating that arrivals in April will reach 5.04 million tonnes, with thermal coal accounting for 4.72 million tonnes. The question for the seaborne coal market is whether China's renewed interest in Australian coal is a sustainable trend, or whether it is simply opportunistic buying that will wither if the price advantage slips.

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