Japan, the second largest iron ore importer of the world, recorded decline in imports in Q1 CY’18. The imports witnessed at 30.70 MnT in Q1 CY’18, down 6% as against 32.74 MnT in Q4 CY’17. The Y-o-Y imports depicted stability as against Q1 CY’17 at 30.41 MnT.
Japan’s crude steel output recorded largely stable at 26.4 MnT in Q1 CY18 against 26.3 MnT in previous quarter. In Q1 CY17, Japan’s crude steel output was recorded at 26.18 MnT. Stability in iron ore imports must have kept crude steel output stable.
Agglomerated (pellets/concentrate) iron ore imports in Q1 CY’18 were down 24% to 3.46 MnT as compared to 4.57 MnT in Q4 CY’17. However, on yearly basis, it witnessed marginal increase in Q1 CY’18 as against Q1 CY’17 at 3.36 MnT.
The non-agglomerated (fines/lump) iron ore imports depicted slight decline to 27.23 MnT in Q1 CY’18 as against Q4 CY’17 at 28.17 MnT. The Y-o-Y imports in first quarter CY’18 stood in line with first quarter CY’17 at 27.05 MnT.
Japan Iron ore imports from Australia stable
Australia continues to remain the largest iron ore exporter to Japan in Q1 CY’18 with total quantity of 18.76 MnT, contributing 61% of total import share (almost stable Q-o-Q), followed by Brazil at 7.53 MnT (down 15% on quarterly basis) and Canada at 1.22 MnT ( down 44%).
Indian iron ore export to Japan recorded significant increase to almost three fold at 0.94 MnT, as against 0.33 MnT in Q4 CY’17. Imports from Ukraine recorded increase to thrice Q-o-Q at 0.26 MnT.
In Mar’18, country’s total iron ore import recorded at 9.87 MnT, down marginally as against 10.22 MnT Feb’18. Australia continued to be the largest exporter at 6.52 MnT (up 14% M-o-M), followed by Brazil at 2.08 MnT (down 24% M-o-M) and Canada at 0.33 MnT (down 40% M-o-M). However, on monthly premises, Chile marked highest increase in exports to Japan at 0.34 MnT, up by more than seven fold M-o-M. United States, Ukraine, and Peru marked nil imports in Mar’18 against being 0.13 MnT, 0.17 MnT and 0.15 MnT respectively a month before.
Country Wise Iron Ore Import Q1 CY’18 v/s Q4 CY’17
| Country | Mar’18 | Feb’18 | M-o-M (%) | Q1 CY’18 | Q4 CY’17 | Q-o-Q (%) |
| Australia | 6.52 | 5.73 | 14% | 18.76 | 18.39 | 2% |
| Brazil | 2.08 | 2.72 | -24% | 7.53 | 8.85 | -15% |
| Canada | 0.33 | 0.55 | -40% | 1.22 | 2.19 | -44% |
| India | 0.29 | 0.36 | -19% | 0.94 | 0.33 | 185% |
| South Africa | 0.2 | 0.31 | -35% | 0.89 | 0.96 | -7% |
| Chile | 0.34 | 0.04 | 750% | 0.38 | 0.53 | -28% |
| United States | 0 | 0.13 | -100% | 0.27 | 0.8 | -66% |
| Ukraine | 0 | 0.17 | -100% | 0.26 | 0.09 | 189% |
| Peru | 0 | 0.15 | -100% | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0% |
| Others | 0.1 | 0.05 | 100% | 0.31 | 0.46 | -33% |
| Grand Total | 9.87 | 10.22 | -3% | 30.7 | 32.74 | -6% |
Quantity in MnT
Source: Japan Customs
Provisional Data
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