Australian, Brazilian iron ore shipments fall 4.7%

Iron ore dispatched to global destinations from the 19 ports and 16 mining companies in Australia and Brazil fell for the second week over December 7-13 by another 1 million tonnes or 4.7% on week to about 22.7 million tonnes, according to Mytseel’s survey, mainly as the decline in the Australian volume to its 10-month low offset the added tonnage from Brazil.

Over the survey period, the Australian iron ore shipments from its ten ports bound for global destinations reversed down after two weeks of gains, falling by 1.7 million tonnes or 9.6% on week to 15.7 million tonnes, while Brazilian shipments from its nine ports recovered from a one-week dip, up 553,000 tonnes or 8.5% on week to 7 million tonnes.

Over the same period, iron ore shipments from Mysteel’s smaller-scale survey of 14 ports and 12 mining companies in Australia and Brazil ebbed for the second week too, dropping 977,000 tonnes or 4.3% on week to 21.7 million tonnes.

Among the total volume for the smaller-scale survey, the tonnage from Australia to China retreated after a two-week gain, down 621,000 tonnes or 4.4% on week to 13.4 million tonnes, though the country’s top three iron ore miners’ performance diverged, according to the survey.

Among the top three Australian miners, Rio Tinto posted a recovery after one-week fall, up 691,000 tonnes or 14.4% on week, while BHP’s tonnage to China reversed down after a one-week rise to a new low since early February, or down 772,000 tonnes or 17% on week, and that from Fortescue Metals Group to China also fell to its three-month low after a one-week growth, or down 298,000 tonnes or 9.7% on week, Mysteel’s latest weekly survey showed.

In the smaller-scale survey, Vale’s iron ore shipment to the global destinations rebounded after one week of decline by 830,000 tonnes or 18.8% on week to 5.3 million tonnes.

Over December 14-20, Australia will roll out scheduled maintenance on Port Hedland for 48 hours, and Brazil will roll out a series of scheduled maintenance on Port da Madeira and Port Tubarao for 96 and 72 hours respectively.

Written by Li Ye, liye@mysteel.com

This article has been published under an article exchange agreement between Mysteel Global and SteelMint.

Image Source: Shipping Herald