Iron ore is this year's hottest commodity on China-fuelled surge

A surge in demand in China, the world’s key growth engine, risks a shortage of iron ore that’s pushed prices past $150 a ton and crowned it this year’s best-performing major commodity.

Futures in Singapore have surged almost 70% this year, hitting their highest since trading started in 2013, as China’s stimulus-led rebound fuels steel output and consumption. The rally received an added boost from Vale SA’s cut to annual production guidance last week, while the first quarter is likely to bring elevated risks of weather disruptions for southern hemisphere producers.

At the heart of the rally is China’s position as the only major economy to see a sustained and robust rebound from a pandemic-driven slump this year, with investment in infrastructure a key pillar of growth. That’s boosting steel demand, buoying prices of the alloy and encouraging the top steelmaker to increase output even as input costs rise.

It’s also got Chinese buyers seeking an intervention, shares of Australian producers BHP Group and Rio Tinto Group soaring, while some market watchers are starting to caution that prices are rising beyond what’s justified by fundamentals.

“The market is in disequilibrium right now -- investors are trading industrial metals like iron ore as a speculative play on how China’s economy is going to perform,” said Atilla Widnell, co founder at Navigate Commo­dities. “There is no way iron ore can be at $150 based on demand and supply fundamentals.”

Morgan Stanley said prices look increasingly overbought, though it forecast a deficit, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has highlighted the potential for more upside amid a shortage.

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. warned moderating steel production could pave the way for softer iron ore demand even as it predicted a tight market next year.

Futures climbed as much as 5.5% to $154.68 a ton on the Singapore Exchange, before trading at $153.60. Benchmark spot prices were at $150.15 on Wednesday, the highest since 2013 when strong Chinese growth saw a surge in iron ore demand, though still more than $40 below the all-time high reached in 2010.

Iron ore futures in Dalian jumped 5.7%, while hot-rolled coil and rebar in Shanghai also advanced. Chinese steel producer shares rose, while BHP was near the highest since 2011 and Rio near the highest since 2008.

Supply troubles

Goldman Sachs said this week it expects a “substantial” deficit next year, with resilient demand and restrained supply set to sustain bullish price momentum. Morgan Stanley forecasts a particularly tight first half of 2021, which will support prices above $100 a ton.

On the supply side, shipments from Brazil in November dropped below 30 million tons for the first time since May.