Only 18% of respondents expected their iron ore requirements to increase in Q4.

This is because upward momentum in property and infrastructure, which account for over 55% of China's total steel consumption, has slowed.

Strong demand from the property sector was lending some support to long steel, aluminum and copper markets in September, market sources said.

Nickel price trend on September 16th

LME nickel price trend on September 15th

This was a turnaround from four months of strong export sales to China from March to June.

The 2010 ferrosilicon contract price on ZCE closed at 5612 yuan per ton on September 16.

Japanese ferrous scrap exports rose by 28pc in June from May to 883,157t, boosted by increased price competitiveness against US exports in Asia.