South Africa, world’s 3rd largest iron ore exporter has exported around 5.42 MnT iron ore in Oct’16, according to the trade data released by South African Customs. Iron ore exports have increased by 17 % M-o-M as it was 4.62 MnT in Sept’16.
Contrarily South African iron ore export has fallen marginally by 6% on Y-o-Y basis. In Oct’15 iron ore exports from South Africa was recorded at 5.78 MnT.
In the first ten months of 2016, the country exported 52.27 MnT iron ore, down by 6% as it was 55.59 MnT in the same period last year.
In Oct’16, the agglomerated iron ore exports were at 3.75 MnT, up by 38% as it was 2.71 MnT in Sept’16. On similar lines, non-agglomerated iron ore exports were registered at 1.67 MnT in Oct’16, down by 13% as it was 1.91 MnT in Sept’16.
China’s iron ore import from South Africa stable in Oct’16, increases from Japan
China remains the largest consumer of South African iron ore. In Oct’16, Chinese iron ore imports from South Africa remained stable which was 2.76 MnT in Oct’16 and 2.78 MnT in Sept’16.
Japan, the second-largest iron ore importer has imported around 0.76 MnT iron ore in Oct’16. Imports of Japan have nearly trebled as in Sept’16 Japan imported 0.23 MnT iron ore from South Africa.
South Africa accounted for nearly 45% of Indian iron ore imports
South African ore has remained 2nd largest source of iron ore import to India after Brazil, so far in this fiscal. In this fiscal, shippers who have imported South African iron ore includes – Gujarat based steel plants, Essar Steel, Jindal SAW, few southern India based steel makers and Goa Sponge & Power.
However in prior two fiscals (i.e. FY15 & FY16) South African iron ore accounted for largest share in Indian iron ore imports.
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