Iron Ore-Prices at 8-month top; cyclone threatens Pilbara

Spot iron ore prices were on course to hit fresh eight-month highs on Thursday, powered by sustained Chinese buying and supply concerns as a tropical cyclone threjaw crusher pex 250 x 1200 priceatens to interrupt production and shipments in top exporter Australia.

Adding to supply worries are heavy rains in Brazil and limited shipments from India, the next two biggest exporters of iron ore, which coupled with firm Chinese demand could push prices to $200 a tonne, a level not seen since 2008, traders and analysts said.

Tropical cyclone Vince is headed towards Australia's northwest coast, home to Port Hedland, the region's largest iron ore export port, the weather bureau said on Wednesday. There is a "potential for the cyclone to disrupt Australian iron ore shipments early next week and possibly hinder mining," dry bulk consultancy Commodore Research said in a note.

"Australian iron ore exports could come under moderate near-term pressure. If the disruption is very severe, there is a chance that iron ore importers would eventually need to source more iron ore from Brazil, India and other exporters," it said...