China Pellets Import 70% Down at 14.53 MnT in 2016

China the largest iron ore importer of the world has imported 14.53 MnT pellets in 2016, according to the trade data released by Chinese Customs.

In 2016, pellet imports have witnessed a significant decrease of 70% Y-o-Y as imports remained at 24.68 MnT in 2015.

In Dec’16, China pellet imports have witnessed a growth of 12% M-o-M as it was 1.22 MnT in Nov’16 against 1.37 MnT in Dec’16. However pellet imports have been down by 30% Y-o-Y for the corresponding month as it was 1.95 MnT in Dec’15.Country-wise China Pellets Import in 2016

1. China mainly imports high-grade pellets from India, Ukraine, Australia, Brazil and Russia etc.
2. In Dec’16, India exported 0.53 MnT pellets to China totaling to 3.69 MnT for CY16 which is 11 times the quantity exported the year earlier and continues to be the largest exporter of pellets to the country. It was 0.30 MnT in CY 15. For Nov’16 it was 0.61 MnT higher than the current month by 48%.
3. Ukraine took over Brazil as second largest pellet exporter and exported 3.23 MnT pellets for the year against 6.82 MnT in 2015 which was down 53% Y-o-Y. Ukraine exported 0.35 MnT pellets in Dec’16 against 0.13 MnT in Nov’16 up 156% M-OM.
4. Australia remains the third largest exporter of pellets to China and exported 2.1 MnT in 2016 against 1.15 MnT pellets in 2015. In Dec’16, the country exported 0.15 MnT pellets, up by 98% M-o-M but 91% down Y-o-Y for the same month.
5. Brazil moved down to the fourth position in pellet exports to China. Chinese pellet imports from Brazil were stopped for a while; it was nil in Nov’15 due to the disruption in Samarco’s operations. Though the imports were resumed from the very next month the amount of material imported in 2016 was just 16% of what was in 2015 that is 11.07 MnT from Brazil. In Dec’16, the country exported 0.07 MnT pellets, down by 52% M-o-M and 99% Y-o-Y for the same month.
6. Other major pellet exporters to China were Russia 0.96 MnT, USA 0.66 MnT, Canada 0.64 MnT, Chile 0.59 MnT, Peru 0.33 MnT and Iran 0.22 MnT for the year 2016. Remaining quantity of 0.42 MnT pellet was exported by other countries.