Author: Paul Ploumis
20 Jan 2015 Last updated at 04:37:53 GMT
SAO PAULO (Scrap Monster): According to latest trade data published by Brazil's Ministry of Industry, Development and Foreign Trade (MDIC), the country's iron ore exports surged higher during the month of December last year. China remained the top export destination, accounting for 58% of the total iron-ore exports by Brazil during the month.

The country's exports of iron ore during Dec '14 totaled 37.393 million mt, 17.6% higher when compared with the exports during Dec '13. Brazil had exported 31.808 million mt of iron ore during Dec '13.

The value of exports totaled $ 1,992.824 million, down by 37.8% when compared with the total export value of $ 3,205 million recorded during Dec '13. The average price per tonne dropped significantly by 47.1% from $100.8 per tonne in Dec 2013 to $53.30 per tonne in Dec '14.

The largest export destination of Brazilian iron ore during Dec '14 was China. The exports to China totaled 21.716 million tonnes. In second place was Japan with 3.396 million mt, followed by S.Korea with 1.755 million mt.

The other key importers of Brazil's iron ore were India (1,139 million mt), France (999,000 mt), Netherlands (978,000 mt), Philippines (896,000 mt), Oman (760,000 mt) and Taiwan (706,000 mt).