CCTV9英语新闻：China's iron ore prices halved in 2014, traders feel pinch

Iron ore prices slumped¹ as much as 50 percent in 2014. Importers who are facing risks of further declines, are remaining cautious holding lower inventory² levels. Shipping³ companies and steel producers are also suffering from the dampening market. 

 

It's not a busy day in the port of Rizhao, China's largest iron ore hub. Nearly half of them sit idle. The trade value dropped, so did the inventory. The storage yard used to be full of loading machines. But now there are vacancies⁴. Over at Rizhao Iron Ore Trading Center, things aren't looking any more optimistic.

 

"Many of our clients are China's major steel producers who used to imports large amount of iron ore. Now sharp drops happen on daily basis, importers have to keep the inventory at rather low levels," says a clerk of Rizhao iron ore Trading Center.

 

Data from China Iron and Steel Association showed, the price of imported iron ore dropped from 135 dollars at the beginning of 2014 to 67 dollars at the end of the year. 

 

Business took a hit. Traders and shipping companies in this office building are moving out. 

 

"We are also affected⁵ by the dampened business of importers. They buy in less, we ship less," says the manager of a shipping company.

 

China's custom officials shows, total imports of iron ore tumbled more than 13 percent in December from the same period last year. 

 

1 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。

2 inventory   

n.详细目录，存货清单

参考例句：

• Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
• We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

3 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

4 vacancies   

n.空房间( vacancy的名词复数 )；空虚；空白；空缺

参考例句：

• job vacancies 职位空缺
• The sign outside the motel said \"No Vacancies\". 汽车旅馆外的招牌显示“客满”。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。