Iron Stockpiles Hit Record in China as Quality Gets Scrutiny
- Port holdings have surged more than 22 million tons this year
- Barclays sees drawdown when steel demand starts to slow down
Iron Ore Prices Down 31% Since March
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The record heap of iron ore on China’s doorstep just got even bigger, with the increase in holdings so far this year eclipsing the build up seen over all of 2016 as mills produce unprecedented amounts of steel.
Stockpiles at ports rose 1.3 percent to 136 million metric tons, expanding for a fourth week, according to Shanghai Steelhome E-Commerce Co. So far in 2017, they’ve risen 22.05 million tons, surpassing the 20.85 million added last year.