新加坡铁矿石期货料创下四年来最低的月终收盘价，因全球供应充裕、中国港口库存居高抑制了需求。
Iron ore futures in Singapore headed for the lowest month-end close in four years, as ample global supplies and elevated Chinese port stockpiles curbed demand.
这类炼钢原料周五跌至每吨接近91美元，10月迄今已跌超2%，是今年第七个月期货录得下跌。除8月短暂反弹外，价格自5月触及每吨111.60美元的高点以来一直呈下跌趋势。
The steelmaking staple slipped to near $91 a ton on Friday, having lost more than 2% so far in October – the seventh month this year where futures have posted a decline. A brief recovery in August aside, prices have been on a downward trend since peaking in May at $111.60.
作为全球最大铁矿石买家的中国，钢厂今年因国内消费疲软和焦煤价格上涨，盈利举步维艰。咨询公司Mysteel最新一周的跟踪显示，约11%的钢厂盈利，而一年前这一比例为45%。
Steel mills in China, by far the world’s biggest iron ore buyer, have struggled to turn a profit due to a combination of sluggish domestic consumption and higher coking coal prices this year. In the latest week tracked by consultancy Mysteel, about 11% of mills were profitable versus 45% a year earlier.
Mysteel的数据还显示，反映需求的生铁平均产量环比下降。与此同时，据SteelHome数据，中国港口铁矿石库存最新一周上升1%，同比上升15%。铁矿石需求预计将在年底前保持低迷，11月和12月历来是中国钢材消费最弱的时期。
Average pig iron output, a gauge of demand, was also down on a weekly basis, according to Mysteel. Meanwhile, iron ore stockpiles across China’s ports rose 1% in the latest week and were up 15% year-on-year, according to SteelHome data. Iron ore demand is likely to remain muted through the end of the year, with November and December historically the weakest period for steel consumption in China.
供应方面，淡水河谷公司（Vale SA）表示，因巴西北部一座矿山面临挑战，其第三季度产量未达预期。不过，该公司将全年铁矿石产量指引维持在3.35亿至3.45亿吨不变。
On the supply side, miner Vale SA said its third-quarter production fell short of estimates due to challenges at a mine in northern Brazil. Still, the company kept its full-year iron ore production guidance unchanged at 335 million to 345 million tons.
新加坡铁矿石当地时间下午12时10分报每吨91.25美元，下跌0.1%，大连交易所期货也下跌。中国焦煤期货上涨。
Iron ore in Singapore was 0.1% lower at $91.25 a ton as of 12:10 p.m. local time, while futures on the Dalian Exchange also fell. China coking coal futures advanced.