China wants iron ore ... and a profusion of other commodities. China has been driving what many are believing to be an M&A recovery. And throughout it all, the country's positioning in Australia has been well covered as it tries to procure iron ore, a key steelmaking ingredient, during a period of depressed valuations, which is especially attractive to a cash-rich country like China.

And while the two countries are also locked in battle over iron ore prices, deals continue.

We are used to hearing about big names such as Australia's BHP Billiton Ltd. (NYSE:BHP), which could be selling some nickel; Rio Tinto plc (NYSE:RTP), which wants to rebuild ties with China (on a political front); Oz Minerals Ltd., which agreed to cash offer from China Minmetals Corp.; and Fortescue Metals Ltd., which is talking with SWF China Investment Corp. about a $1 billion convertible bond investment.

What we don't hear much about are the smaller transactions -- for so-called "junior miners" -- and there may be a lot more of them. Although it's hard to see China significantly reducing its reliance on BHP and Rio, the country is still exploring smaller options to feed its demand -- besides looking to other countries like Brazil. For example, The Age notes:

Western Australian iron ore junior explorer FerrAus Ltd. announced plans to sell 12% of itself to China Railway Materials Commercial Corp., or CRM, for about $12.6 million;

CRM also said it would make a $27.2 million equity investment in Western Australia-based iron ore and bauxite explorer United Minerals Corp. NL; and

China state-owned energy group CGNPC Uranium Resources said it would acquire up to 70% of Perth-based uranium explorer Energy Metals for $83.6 million under a proportional takeover bid.

Reuters notes that other junior miners that could attract Chinese interest include Atlas Iron Ltd. -- which made a takeover offer for fellow iron ore explorer Warwick Resources Ltd. that values the target at $64 million -- Brockman Resources Ltd., Mt Gibson Ltd. and BCI Iron Ltd. The article quoted a banker as saying, "Most of the bigger transactions have been done and therefore it's a logical way for China to increase its exposure to these projects."

What's also worth a mention is the North West Iron Ore Alliance, which named former Howard government senior minister Ian Campbell as its new chairman and is lobbying for BHP and Rio to open mine-to-port rail lines to third parties. WaBusinessNews quoted Campbell saying, "BHP and Rio are being dogs in a manger and sitting on this infrastructure to stop other people getting use of it because they don't want competition ... they hope if they delay enough the projects will fall over."

Courtesy: www.thedeal.com

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