China: Iron ore imports inch down in Jun’21

China, the world’s largest iron ore consumer and importer, recorded imports at 89.42 mn t in Jun’21 against 89.79 mn t in May, according to General Administration of Customs data. The country’s iron ore imports dropped by 0.4% m-o-m due to falling steel margins from mid-May onwards amid a renewed surge in iron ore prices even as the country’s government focuses on steel output control measures. Iron ore imports were recorded at 560.71 mn t in the Jan-Jun’21 period, up 2.6% y-o-y.