South Korea: Monthly Iron Ore Imports Recorded Highest in Sept’17 in CY17

South Korea, the third-largest iron ore importer after China and Japan, has imported 7.01 MnT iron ore in Sept’17, according to the trade data released by South Korean Customs.
Iron ore imports have witnessed an increase of 10% M-o-M to 7.01 MnT in Sept’17 against 6.36 MnT in Aug’17. The country’s iron ore imports also up 8% Y-o-Y in Sept’17 against 6.49 MnT in Sept’16.

This is the highest monthly iron ore import figure of South Korea so far in CY17. Prior to this, highest monthly import figure was recorded in the month of Mar’17 at 6.65 MnT.

During the first 9 months of 2017, South Korea imported 54.14 MnT iron ore up 2% Y-o-Y compared to 52.94 MnT in the same period last year.

An agglomerated ore (pellets and concentrates) imports were down by 64% M-o-M to 0.18 MnT in Sept’17against 0.5MnT in Aug’17, and it’s also down by 49% Y-o-Y in Sept’17 compared to the same month last year which was 0.35 MnT.

A non-agglomerated iron ore (lumps and fines) imports were up 17% to 6.83 MnT in Sept’17 against Aug’17 which was stood at 5.86 MnT. It was also up 11% Y-o-Y in Sept’17 compared with Sept’16 which was 6.14 MnT.

Country-wise South Korea Iron Ore Imports in Sept’17-: South Korea imports were recorded in Sept’17 from Australia was 5.04 MnT followed by Brazil 1.18 MnT, Canada 0.38 MnT, South Africa 0.36 MnT and Indian 0.05 MnT. South Korea’s iron ore imports from Australia, Brazil and Canada increased significantly in Sept’17.

Country-wise South Korea Iron Ore Imports 

Quantity in MnT
Source: South Korean Customs
Provisional Data