China's iron ore imports are expected to hit a record high in 2025 as traders stockpile in the country with cheap iron ore despite a prolonged property crisis that continues to weaken iron ore demand, according to a Reuters survey with market analysts and traders.

China's iron ore imports are expected to rise by between 10 million and 40 million tons to 1.27 billion tons this year, above what analysts expected to be a record high in 2024 when China imported 1.124 billion tons during the first 11 months of 2024, up by 4.3% year on year.

According to the survey, iron ore prices are expected to fall to between US$75 and US$120 per ton in 2025, compared with between US$88 and US$144 per ton in 2024 based on Steelhome data.