South African Iron Ore Export Shipments Up 36% in Nov’19

As per bulk vessel line up data maintained with SteelMint, South African iron ore export shipments in Nov’19 witnessed 36% rise to 4.91 MnT, as against 3.62 MnT in Oct’19.

Export shipments to China down 5% M-o-M
South Africa’s total iron ore export shipments to China for the month recorded marginal fall to 2.03 MnT in Nov’19 as compared to 2.15 MnT in Oct’ 19. The exports dropped to China amid winter production curbs leading to increase in pellet demand by Chinese mills.

Exports to Korea increased sharply to 0.54 MnT against 0.39 MnT a month ago. Exports to Japan stood stable M–o-M at 0.20 MnT.

South African export shipments to India rebounded in Nov’19
South African iron ore exports to India recorded at 48,480 MT in Nov’19. The exports rebounded after recording nil for four consecutive months from July’19 to Oct’19.

As per sources, lump import vessel of about 60,500 MT is expected to arrive at Goa towards end of Dec’19. As per reports, South African Saldanha port was under maintenance shut in Oct’19 and resumed in Nov’19 pushing Indian imports of South African lumps.

Indian iron ore imports of South African lumps seem to have picked up after depicting a long halt. However, few Western and Southern India steel mills continue dependency on pellets and prefer pellet over lumps. Jindal SAW pellet prices are assessed at INR 8,150/MT, delivered Kandla.

South Africa Iron Ore Export shipment line up

Qty in MnT
Source: SteelMint, Custom
Provisional Data