Iron ore futures fell toward CNY 800 per ton, pulling back from two-month highs after the state-backed China Mineral Resources Group said it would temporarily relax certain restrictions on BHP Group’s Jimblebar Fines following a sharp price rally. The decision is widely seen as a concession to steelmakers that have faced difficulties securing supply amid a prolonged dispute between CMRG and BHP. Prices had surged last week after CMRG expanded its ban on BHP iron ore for the second time in two weeks, informing mills that products such as Newman fines and lumps, along with Mining Area C fines, would be placed in the same restricted category as BHP’s Jimblebar blend. In response, Chinese mills rushed to transfer BHP ore from port inventories to their plants ahead of potential curbs. Over the past six months, China has gradually tightened limits on purchases of BHP iron ore while negotiating the terms of its 2026 supply contract.
