国际英语新闻：Domestic ore prices up again, but cheaper than imports

BEIJING, April 13 --Domestic iron ore prices rose 17 percent in March over the previous month to 177 U.S. dollars per ton on Monday, according to data from industry watcher Mysteel.com. That price is for 66 percent iron content ore and includes tax and transport.

At 177 dollars per ton, the price is still lower than the spot price of imported iron ore.

Similar iron ore from Brazil rose to nearly 185 dollars per ton on Monday.

Iron ore is typically classified as high grade when its iron content is above 65 percent.

Since imported ore rose above 130 dollars per ton, some Chinese steel mills have enhanced the iron content of domestic ore, said a salesperson from Hebei Iron and Steel Group.

Industry experts said the shift back to domestic ore supplies will enhance domestic ore mining.

Low-grade iron ore production is likely to rise by 10 percent to 950 million tons this year, said Hu Kai, an analyst with Umetals.com.