Iron Ore

Increasing iron ore prices coupled with declining steel prices represent an unsustainable disparity. Iron ore prices will pivot downward in the next six months. A sizeable reduction in China’s steel production will likely occur, reducing global iron ore demand. Meanwhile, global iron ore supply will increase moderately.

Both iron ore and steel will have oversupplied markets in 2023. The path of least resistance for iron ore and steel prices will be down in the coming months. We expect both iron ore and steel prices to drop by 15%-20% from their current levels. We recommend that investors short stocks for global steelmakers and global mining companies.

The risk-on rally is challenging our annual forecast so we are cutting some losses. But we still think central banks and geopolitics will combine to reverse the rally later this year.

CCP policy stimulus will boost growth in China this year. Copper prices breached $4.00/lb on COMEX this week, as expected. We continue to forecast $4.50/lb this year, with upside price risk dominating. Iron ore also will rise, but economic and regulatory policy uncertainty clouds the outlook. We remain long the COMT and XME ETFs. We are getting tactically long BRL/USD and AUS/USD on the back of our metals view, which is constrained by China’s reversion to absolute autocracy and ability to reverse policy suddenly and unpredictably.

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