Japan, the second largest iron ore importer of the world imported 126.6 MnT iron ore in CY’17 down marginally by 3% against CY’16 at 130.04 MnT. The country continued to remain 2nd largest steel producer observing minimal increase in crude steel output to 104.7 MnT in CY17.
In CY’17, Japan imported 72.96 MnT iron ore from Australia (down 6% Y-o-Y), Brazil at 34.2 MnT (down 5% Y-o-Y), and Canada at 6.5 MnT( up 19% Y-o-Y).
However, in Dec’17 Japan imported 11.76 MnT iron ore up 9% M-o-M as against 10.74 MnT in Nov’17. The Y-o-Y imports also witnessed increase of 9% in Dec’17 as compared to Dec’16 which stood at 10.8 MnT.
Agglomerated (pellets/concentrate) iron ore imports were up 6% M-o-M to 1.42 MnT in Dec’17 as against 1.34 MnT in Nov’17. It witnessed an increase of 5% Y-o-Y in Dec’17 as against Dec’16 at 1.35 MnT.
The non-agglomerated (fines/lump) iron ore imports witnessed a rise of 10% to 10.34 MnT in Dec’17 as against Nov’17 at 9.4 MnT. The Y-o-Y imports also depicted an increase of 9% in Dec’17 as compared to Dec’16 which was recorded at 9.45 MnT.
Country Wise Japan Iron Ore Import in Dec’17
Australia continues to remain the largest iron ore exporter to Japan in the month of Dec’17 with total quantity of 6.6 MnT, up by 13% as compared to previous month, followed by Brazil at 3.74 MnT, Canada at 0.58 MnT and Chile 0.16 MnT.
Country Wise Iron Ore Import Dec’17 v/s Nov’17
| Countries | Dec’17 | Nov’17 | M-o-M (%) | CY’17 | CY’16 | Y-o-Y (%) |
| Australia | 6.6 | 5.82 | 13% | 72.96 | 77.39 | -6% |
| Brazil | 3.74 | 3.26 | 15% | 34.2 | 35.95 | -5% |
| Canada | 0.58 | 0.52 | 12% | 6.5 | 5.48 | 19% |
| Chile | 0.16 | 0.05 | 220% | 1.65 | 2.13 | -23% |
| Peru | 0.15 | – | 100% | 0.68 | 0.54 | 26% |
| Russia | 0.15 | – | 100% | 0.34 | 0.41 | -17% |
| India | 0.13 | 0.2 | -35% | 2.88 | 2.16 | 33% |
| Others | 0.25 | 0.89 | -72% | 7.4 | 5.98 | 24% |
| Grand Total | 11.76 | 10.74 | 9% | 126.6 | 130.04 | -3% |
Quantity in MnT
Source: Japan Customs
Provisional Data
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