According to the provisional data maintained with SteelMint the iron ore exports from Australia, world’s largest exporter of iron ore have been down 7% M-o-M.
The downward change in numbers can be attributed to
1. The high level of inventories at Chinese Ports- The reports are that at Chinese port the inventories are at record high since 2004. According to latest estimates the stock at ports is as high as 131 MnT till date. The numbers suggest that the slowdown of purchases is ahead in the Chinese market.
2. The bad weather at Australian Seas- For two months in a row the bad weather over Australian ports have resulted in fall in export numbers. Weather has disturbed the operations last year in the same period according to data; experts believe that the risk in supply interruption is not over yet.
China-The largest importer China with 50.3 MnT was down by 12% compared with Jan’17 at 57.1 MnT iron ore. However though the M-o-M exports were down it were up 7% at 129.3 MnT for the first two months of 2017 compared with the numbers for the same period last year at 120 MnT but down 1% Y-o-Y for the corresponding month in 2016. In Jan’17 China’s import share was 85% out of Total Australia Export, for Feb’17 it was reduced to 81%
Japan-Japan imported 39% more material compared to last month at 7 MnT iron ore against 5.1 MnT in Jan’17. Japan’s share of imports of Australian iron ore has increased by 3% at 11% over 8% last month.
Other countries that have reduced the import for the month from Australia are Korea and Great Britain.
Country-wise Export Jan-17 Vs Feb-17
| Country | Jan-17 | Feb-17 | Grand Total | % Change |
| China | 57.1 | 50.3 | 107.4 | -12% |
| Japan | 5.1 | 7.0 | 12.1 | 39% |
| Korea | 3.4 | 3.1 | 6.6 | -8% |
| Taiwan | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 33% |
| Indonesia | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 100% |
| GB | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | -100% |
| Grand Total | 67.0 | 62.4 | 129.3 | -7% |
Qty in MT
Source: SteelMint Stats, Provisional Data
Port- Port Kwinana export down by 29% at 0.3 MnT against 0.4 MnT in Jan’17. Port Geraldton export down by 18% at 0.9 MnT against 1.1 MnT in Jan’17. Port Headland export down by 13% at 35.5 MnT against 40.9 MnT in Jan’17. Port Walcott also exported 3% less quantity.
Port-wise Export Jan-17 Vs Feb-17
|
Port
|
Jan-17 | Feb-17 | Grand Total | % Change |
| Headland | 40.9 | 35.5 | 76.4 | -13% |
| Walcott | 14.0 | 13.7 | 27.7 | -3% |
| Dampier | 9.7 | 11.2 | 20.9 | 15% |
| Geraldton | 1.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | -18% |
| Esperance | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 7% |
| Kwinana | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | -29% |
| Grand Total | 67.0 | 62.4 | 129.3 | -7% |
Qty in MT
Source: SteelMint Stats, Provisional Data
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