MYSTEEL: Simandou ore's debut might make a splash, but prices will barely ripple

The long-anticipated Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, West Africa, is finally living up to its promise, with shipment volumes climbing faster than many had expected. While chemical composition drawbacks suggest Simandou ores are unlikely to fully replace Brazil's Carajs fines (IOCJ) in production anytime soon, growing supply of the ore is set to reshape the price dynamics of the global iron ore market, according to a detailed analysis from Mysteel.

The first vessel carrying Simandou ores set sail from Guinea's Morébahia Port in November 2025 bound for Majishan Port in East China's Zhejiang and since then, the operation has moved from symbolic to substantial. By mid-May this year, cumulative shipments from Simandou had reached approximately 6 million tonnes, with weekly