FACTBOX-Vale iron ore prices to Asia since 1993

Feb 18 (Reuters) - Japanese and South Korean steel mills
have agreed to a 65 percent increase in iron ore prices with
world No.1 producer, Vale (VALE5.SA) of Brazil, at the top end
of analyst estimates and heaping more misery on cost-burdened
steelmakers.

Iron ore prices have risen steadily since 2003, having
gained almost fivefold in the past decade, as China's booming
steel industry devours ever more feedstock. For the full story
click on [ID:nPEK348125]

Following is a table on iron ore settlement prices based on
Vale's Asia reference prices. Standard sinter feed is priced in
U.S. cents per one percent iron per dry tonne. Price $/tonne is
a Reuters calculation based on an iron content of 65 percent
per tonne of ore.

Standard Price $/tonne Pct Change

sinter feed 65 pct Fe on year
1994 23.01 14.96 -9.48
1995 24.34 15.82 5.78
1996 25.80 16.77 6.00
1997 26.08 16.95 1.09
1998 26.82 17.43 2.84
1999 23.87 15.52 -11.00
2000 24.91 16.19 4.36
2001 25.98 16.89 4.30
2002 25.36 16.48 -2.39
2003 27.64 17.97 8.99
2004 32.79 21.31 18.63
2005 55.34 35.97 68.77
2006 65.85 42.80 18.99
2007 72.11 46.87 9.50
2008 118.98 77.34 65.00
Sources: Vale reference prices, except 2008 which is based on
steelmakers, Reuters