As Chinese steel firms step up their efforts to explore resources abroad, there have been ups and downs in their gains because of inexperienced risk management, reports Du Juan in Perth, Australia

Facing increasing domestic demand for iron ore with high import prices in recent years, Chinese steel companies have been trying to find an effective investment model to make acquisitions cheaper and more predictable.

They have made moves into Australia, Brazil and Africa, where the resource is found in abundance but some projects have had to be suspended because of various political, financial or environmental reasons while others have been relatively successful.

Industry insiders and experts said it is currently better for Chinese steel companies to find a local partner familiar with the business in the region than invest huge amounts of money buying up a site entirely on its own to exploit.

"It is all about balance," said Sebastian Lewis, editorial director of Platts China, the commodities information provider.

If a Chinese steel company takes a minority stake in a foreign mining company, it can help secure the iron ore supply although the Chinese entity would not be involved in the management, he said.

"In the case of direct investment, you (Chinese steel companies) own more of the project, which may bring you higher returns during the operation, but it also brings risks because the construction period can be very challenging in terms of managing the project outside your own country and constructing the infrastructure," Lewis added.

"Neither way is necessarily good or bad. It depends on your tolerance of risk."

China's largest and most ambitious overseas investment in the mining industry is the Sino Iron project wholly owned by CITIC Pacific Ltd, a Hong Kong-listed incorporated company.

CITIC Pacific secured the rights to 2 billion metric tons of magnetite resources with an expected mine life of 25 years in 2006. Last year, the company announced that it had acquired a further 1 billion tons of magnetite ore.

The project was expected to have an investment scale of $4.2 billion and was put into operation in the first half of 2009. However, because of rising costs and various misfortunes, the commissioning date has been delayed several times.

According to a source within the company, the total investment will increase to about $8 billion.

However, the source said the operation of the project is not as bad as some say and the second and third phrases of the project will be completed on schedule.

Although many Chinese companies have been facing challenges, including financial pressure, unfamiliar laws and regulations, environmental and labor issues, they are also making progress and gaining experiences.

"It is difficult for any company to go overseas at the beginning," said Lewis. "If they just want to secure raw material supplies, it is probably better just to buy shares in these iron ore companies."

Zhang Tieshan, an analyst from steel information provider Mysteel.com, shared that opinion.

"It is hard for Chinese companies to make decisions if they have total control of mining companies abroad," he said. "They may have good intentions but always face objections and suspicion if they want to hold the majority of the shares."

For instance, Shougang Group's project in Peru encountered strikes by staff that reflected badly on the company.

"It can be less risky if Chinese steel companies buy shares, which is similar to having a long-term iron ore supply contract," said Zhang.

Hunan Valin Iron and Steel Group Co invested in Australia-based iron ore company Fortescue Metals Group Ltd in 2009, becoming the second-largest stakeholder with a current share of 14.72 percent of the shares. It is considered to be a success by Li Jianguo, general manager of Valin.

He said the key factor behind its success was not interfering with Fortescue's production operations and letting a local team manage its business through major shareholder discussion and participation in board meetings.

"It is proven that this is an effective way to manage overseas investments," Li said. "Valin has received positive financial returns on this investment."

Questioned whether Valin had any influence on Fortescue's iron ore prices and had no say regarding them, Li said the company's investment was to gain positive returns rather than getting below-market prices for iron ore products.

"Iron ore prices depend on supply and demand. Return on industry investment is realized by real market prices through low production costs and product sales."

Although many steel companies have secured iron ore supplies by investing abroad, Zhang said now is not a good time for overseas mergers and acquisitions, buying exploration rights or purchasing land because costs are currently high.

"Iron ore prices will continue to fall. It would be better to consider any possible investment after they fall even further," said Zhang.

China imported 384.29 million tons of iron ore in total in the first half of this year, up 5.1 percent year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs.

The average imported iron ore price during the first half was $133.2 a ton, down $6.30 compared with the same period last year.

The average imported iron ore price in June was $126.8 a ton, a $12 drop compared with May's figure.

The iron ore market in the first half was weaker than in the same period last year. The cost of China's iron ore imports for the first half totaled $51.2 billion, a slight increase of 0.3 percent year-on-year.