China: Country-wise Iron Ore Imports in Jun’17

The world’s largest consumer of iron ore, China has imported 94.7 MnT iron ore in Jun’17. The country imports more than two-third of seaborne iron ore.

In Jun’17, iron ore imports were up by 3% M-o-M. However Y-o-Y, country’s import increased by 16% as it was 81.6 MnT for the same month last year.

For the first six months of 2017 China imported 539.5 MnT iron ore 9% up compared to the same period last year which was at 493.6 MnT.

Compared with the Jan-Mar quarter the imports were down by 1% at 268.5 MnT against 271.1 then. However the imports were up against the same quarter last year which were at 252.2 MnT then.

China chiefly imports iron ore from Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. India turns out to be fourth largest iron ore exporter to China in Jun’17 as last month. Among total imports of iron ore by China in Jun’17, Australia contributed 63%, Brazil 19%, South Africa 5% and India contributed 3% of total imports.
Exports from Australia were registered at 61 MnT, up 11% M-o-M and 6% Y-o-Y as it were 51.3 MnT in Jun’16

Exports from Brazil, the second-largest iron ore exporter to China, remained at 18.2 MnT in Jun’17 which was down by 4% M-o-M but up by 20% Y-o-Y compared to Jun’16. Meanwhile, exports from South Africa remained at 3.8 MnT, down 5% in Jun’17 M-o-M and 13% Y-o-Y compared to Jun’16.

India exported 2.2 MnT iron ore in the month of Jun’17, considerably down by 27% M-o-M as it was 2.9 MnT in May’17 and by 5% Y-o-Y as it were at 2.3 MnT in Jun’16.

China Country-wise Iron Ore Sourcing Pattern