Chinese iron ore port inventories are bloated and continue to increase, hitting more than two-year highs last week. When you throw seasonality into the mix, the build is occurring at a time when inventories should be drawing fast. It’s extremely rare, raising questions whether iron ore can hold above $100 when the largest source of steel demand globally – China’s property sector – is on its knees.
From not only a fundamental but technical perspective, SGX iron ore futures look ripe for downside. Having been rejected at resistance at $114 last week, the August 2024 contract has broken the 50-day moving average level, back testing it and then slicing through uptrend support before doing away with horizonal support at $109 on Monday.
Having retested $109 earlier today and failed, a short trade looks in order targeting $102, the low struck in July. The risk reward of selling around these levels is still favourable, although the preference would be to see the price move closer to $109, allowing for a tight stop to be placed above the level for protection. If the trade were to move in your favour, consider lowering your stop to entry level.
DS