China, the world’s largest importer of iron ore has imported 82.23 MnT iron ore in Apr’17. Iron ore imports have been down by 14% M-o-M against the quantity of 95.56 MnT last month.
The China iron ore imports were up 9% at 353.3 MnT for the first four months in 2017 as well against 325.3 MnT for the Jan-Apr in 2016.
The iron ore prices have been falling in China consistently. Monthly average spot iron ore fines (Fe 62%) prices were analyzed at USD 70/MT, CFR China in Apr’17 which was USD 87/MT, CFR China in Mar’17.
Australia, Brazil, South Africa and India made up 90% of China’s iron ore imports. It is a usual iron ore import pattern China follows. The exports from these four major iron producing countries to China was 243.3 MnT in Jan-Mar quarter 2017 out of 270.5 MnT up 12% against 216.6 MnT out of 241.6 MnT in the same quarter last year.
| Country |
Q1-17 |
% Share Q1-17 |
Q1-16 |
% Share Q1-16 |
% Change |
| Australia |
166.3 |
61% |
150.0 |
62% |
11% |
| Brazil |
55.7 |
21% |
53.5 |
22% |
4% |
| South Africa |
11.3 |
4% |
10.9 |
5% |
4% |
| India |
10.0 |
4% |
2.2 |
1% |
350% |
| Total |
243.3 |
90% |
216.6 |
90% |
12% |
| Total Imports |
270.5 |
100% |
241.6 |
100% |
12% |
Figures are in MnT
Source: SteelMint Stats and Customs
Provisional Data
Leave a Reply