Steel Products Prices North America

February 15, 2019
CRU: Why the High-Grade Premium is Falling After the Vale Dam Breach
Written by Tim Triplett
By CRU Senior Analysts Erik Hedborg and Andrew Gadd
CRU’s research shows that the dam breach in Brazil, as well as the recent fire at Vale’s blending terminal in Malaysia, will have limited impact on the availability of high-grade fines. Iron ore prices of all different grades have increased since the dam breach, but the premium for high-grade iron ore over the 62% Fe benchmark price has actually decreased since the accident. This confirms our view that Vale’s high-grade fines supply to the market is relatively unaffected by the dam breach. However, it is the supply of pellets and medium-grade fines with higher impurity levels that will be affected the most.


