China: Iron ore imports fall by 4%, y-o-y, to 1.12 bn t in CY’21

China, the world’s largest iron ore consumer and importer, recorded imports of iron ore (including pellets) at 1.124 billion tonnes (bn t) in CY’21 versus 1.170 bn t in CY’20, according to General Administration of Customs data. Steel production curbs limited demand for imported iron ore. Imports fell by 18% on month to 86 mn t in Dec’21 due to decreased shipments from key countries.