South African Iron Ore Export Drops 13% Y-o-Y in July’18

South Africa – world’s 3rd largest iron ore exporter after Australia and Brazil recorded exports at 4.77 MnT in July’18, according to the trade data released by South African Customs. The exports witnessed decline of 13% on yearly basis as against 5.5 MnT in July’17.

However, the July’18 exports on monthly basis, stood down slightly compared to June’18 exports at 4.88 MnT.

South African exports for the duration Jan-July’18 witnessed at 37.12 MnT , in line with last year same duration (Jan-July’17) at 37.22 MnT.

An agglomerated (pellets/concentrate) iron ore exports on monthly basis, recorded increase of 13% to 3.22 MnT in July’18 as against 2.84 MnT in June’18. However, on yearly basis, exports decreased by 4% Y-o-Y as against 3.35 MnT in July’17.

The non-agglomerated (fines/lump) iron ore monthly exports were down by 24% in July’18 to 1.56 MnT as against June’18 exports at 2.04 MnT. On yearly basis, exports dropped by 28% in July’18 against 2.16 MnT in July’17.

Chinese iron ore imports from South Africa down 7% M-o-M

China continues to remain the largest iron ore importer from South Africa for the month of July’18, at 2.67 MnT, contributing 56% share of total South African iron ore export in July’18 (down 7% M-o-M), followed by Japan at 0.57 MnT (up by two folds on monthly basis) and South Korea at 0.51 MnT (up thrice M-o-M).

South African exports to Egypt and Germany marked stable M-o-M at 0.16 MnT and 0.13 MnT respectively.

Country wise South African Iron Ore Exports

Quantity in MnT
Source: South Africa Customs
Provisional Data