No, China will not save iron ore

With support from stronger Chinese prices unlikely to eventuate, iron ore therefore is susceptible to further weakness. With risks still heavily skewed to the downside, we expect to see prices below $US40 a tonne in the coming months.

" While there has been chatter about potential restocking after Chinese New Year, evidence suggests the likelihood of such a scenario is low."
Daniel Hynes, Senior commodity strategist at ANZ

Seasonal trends post-Lunar New Year do not support higher prices. While there has been chatter about potential restocking after the holiday, evidence suggests the likelihood of such a scenario is low.

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Chinese steel production has traditionally been a little bit stronger in the months following the Chinese New Year holiday. Discounting the month after the holiday, growth in steel production has been relatively modest.

Even so, this hasn't resulted in a similarly consistent pick-up in iron ore demand. While the second month following the holiday has seen (on average) a pick-up in imports over the past 10 years, this quickly turned around in later months. A consistent build in inventories late in 2015 also makes the likelihood of a restock unlikely.

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Therefore, it should not come as a surprise prices have continually disappointed post New Year. Outside of 2010, iron ore prices have fallen every year one month after the Chinese New Year. And in all cases bar 2010 and 2012, prices have still been lower than before the Chinese New Year some 90 days later.

China's State Council announced earlier this year it will reduce steel production capacity by 100 million tonnes to just 150. This follows on from a reduction of more than 90 million tonnes between 2011 and 2015.

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This continues to be reflected in the Chinese steel PMI. While it recorded a small gain in December 2015, it presently remains in contracting territory at 40.6. The new order and output subsectors also remain weak, with both well below 50.

Daniel Hynes is a senior commodity strategist at ANZ.