South Africa, the third-largest iron ore exporter, after China and Japan, has exported 64.7 MnT iron ore in 2016, according to the trade data released by South African Customs.
Iron ore exports have witnessed a downfall of 3% Y-o-Y as it was 66.80 MnT in 2015.
In Dec’16, South African iron ore exports have witnessed a growth of 5% M-o-M as it was 6.10 MnT in Nov’16. On similar lines, exports have also moved up by 3% Y-o-Y as it was 6.22 MnT in Dec’15.
The non-agglomerated iron ore (lumps and fines) import in 2016 was registered at 24.90 MnT against 23.35 MnT in 2015. In Dec’16, exports were registered at 2.02 MnT, down by 23% M-o-M and 5% Y-o-Y.
The agglomerated ore (pellets and concentrate) import was registered at 39.82 MnT in 2016 against 43.40 MnT in 2015. In Dec’16, exports were registered at 4.49 MnT, up by 25% M-o-M and 6.6% Y-o-Y.
China’s iron ore import from South Africa at 40 MnT in 2016
China remains the largest consumer of South African iron ore. In 2016, China imported 40.23 MnT iron ore against 43.61 MnT in 2015.
In Dec’16, the country imported 3.01 MnT iron ore against 4.07 MnT in Nov’16. In Dec’15, the country has imported 4.26 MnT iron ore.
South Africa accounted for nearly 45% of India’s iron ore imports
South African ore has remained 2nd largest source of iron ore import to India after Brazil in FY17.
In this fiscal, the importers of South African iron ore includes – Gujarat based steel plants, Essar Steel, Jindal SAW, few southern India based steel makers and Goa Sponge & Power. Total 1.84 MnT iron ore has been imported from South Africa in FY17 (till Dec’16).
However in the prior two fiscals (i.e. FY15 & FY16) South African iron ore accounted for largest share in India’s iron ore imports.
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