Iron ore futures edged up slightly on Tuesday, buoyed by encouraging economic data from China, though lingering demand concerns limited further gains.
China’s GDP grew 5.2pct YoY in Q2 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Industrial output also saw a robust increase of 6.8pct YoY, while fixed asset investment rose 2.8pct in the first half of the year, reflecting the impact of Beijing’s targeted stimulus measures.
However, the property sector remains a major drag on the economy, with real estate investment plunging 11.2pct YoY. Analysts caution that without additional stimulus, maintaining 5pct+ growth in the second half of 2025 could prove challenging amid ongoing deflationary pressures and rising trade tensions with the U.S.
The iron ore market also faces downside risks, including potential steel production curbs, growing global protectionism against Chinese steel exports, and a seasonal lull in demand, all of which could squeeze mill margins and lead to output cuts.
On the Dalian Commodity Exchange, the most-traded September iron ore contract rose 0.13pct to 767 yuan (USD 106.9) per ton. Coking coal and coke futures dropped 0.85pct and 0.38pct, settling at 1,514 yuan (USD 211) and 911.5 yuan (USD 127) per ton, respectively.
Meanwhile, on the Shanghai Futures Exchange, rebar fell 0.54pct to 3,114 yuan (USD 434) per ton. HRC dipped 0.31pct to 3,259 yuan (USD 455), wire rod slid 2.13pct to 3,348 yuan (USD 467), and stainless steel declined 0.20pct to 12,675 yuan (USD 1,768) per ton.
1 USD / 7.16 yuan
CHINESE STEEL FUTURES
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Date: 7/15/2025 |
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| Material | Closing Price (in yuan) |
Difference from Night Session (pct) |
Difference from Previous Morning Session (pct) |
| Wire Rod | 3,348 |
-2.13 |
-1.55 |
| HRC | 3,259 |
-0.31 |
-0.52 |
| Rebar | 3,114 |
-0.54 |
-0.77 |
| Stainless Steel | 12,675 |
-0.20 |
-0.32 |
| Iron Ore | 767 |
0.13 |
0.07 |
| Coke | 1,514 |
-0.85 |
-0.73 |
| Coking Coal | 911.5 |
-0.38 |
-0.93 |
