"The shipment charges for Brazilian ore is higher due to the long distance despite its free on board prices being cheaper than Australian ores," Zheng said.

Spot prices for iron ore delivered to China jumped to over US$90 a ton for the first time this year thanks to the climbing shipments.

Iron ore for immediate delivery advanced 4.6 percent to US$91 a ton last week, the highest since October last year, according to Metal Bulletin prices.

The country is boosting shipments on the cash market because of the "breakdown" in talks for a benchmark price between steelmakers and foreign producers, according to Bloomberg. "The price system change is not something new, rather the Rio Tinto scandal might push for the setting up of a new pricing system," said Cui.

Meanwhile Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean said yesterday that Chinese authorities have not yet charged Rio Tinto Group executive Stern Hu, and have called for more details on the case.

(China Daily July 21, 2009)