Pilbara iron ore miner BC Iron predicts the iron ore price will head above $US100 per tonne over the next six months as demand for the company's product remains strong.
Chief executive Morgan Ball said the recent experience of iron ore price falls and slight rebounds had been reasonably similar to 2012.
"Prices came down and discounts on tier-two iron ore creeped up a bit and then they came back again, and I think we're seeing that again," Mr Ball told reporters at the Diggers and Dealers mining conference in Kalgoorlie on Wednesday.
Iron ore is trading around US$95 per tonne after dipping to US$89 earlier in the year.
Mr Ball said around $US90 appeared to be a natural floor, taking into account changes to Chinese domestic production.
"Admittedly it's about $US10 to $US15 lower than what we thought which was about $US100 to $US110," he said.
Mr Ball believes the iron ore price will continue to creep up over the next six months.
"I'd like to think it will be above $US100 per tonne."
He said fluctuations in the Australian dollar would be important for iron ore miners over the next few months.
He said a fall in the Australian dollar and lift in the iron ore price would be a "nice combination".
Mr Ball said there was still potential to expand operations in the Pilbara, but for now the company was focused on maintaining production of six million tonnes per annum at its Nullagine joint venture project over the next six years.
On average BC Iron sends three ship loads to China each month.
The company also touched on growth options in Brazil, with Mr Ball describing the company's joint exploration project as still a "small kernel of an idea".
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