A senior China Iron and Steel Association official said he wasn't aware of any iron ore term price agreement reached between Chinese mills and Anglo-Australian miners.

Qi Xiangdong, the association's deputy secretary-general, declined to comment further on a report that Chinese mills have struck a deal for a 33% discount from last year's benchmark prices with Rio Tinto PLC (RTP) and BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP).

The association's secretary-general Shan Shanghua couldn't be reached for comment.

Global miners, including Brazil's Vale S.A. (VALE), are in protracted discussions with China for this year's term price, after finalizing rates 33% lower than a year ago with other Asian customers in late-May and early-June.

-By Chuin-Wei Yap, Dow Jones Newswires; 8610 6588 5848; chuin-wei.yap@dowjones.com