Brazil, Australia records significant boost in iron ore export volumes

Published: Jun 3, 2016 09:34
The iron ore export volumes by top exporting nations have reported significant jump during the current year.

By Carolina Curiel (ScrapMonster Author)

June 02, 2016 08:03:04 AM

SAO PAULO (Scrap Monster): The iron ore export volumes by top exporting nations have reported significant jump during the current year. The exports of iron ore by Brazil reported year-on-year increase of nearly 6% during the initial four-month period of the year. Meantime, the exports of the steelmaking raw material by Australia have increased by nearly 10% during the month of March this year.

Brazil’s cumulative exports during Jan-Apr ‘16

The most recent data released by the Brazil Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade of the foreign trade Secretariat (SECEX) indicates that the country’s iron ore exports increased by 5.7% over the previous year to 1.43 billion tons during January to April this year. The average export prices have dropped sharply by nearly 42% year-on-year to US$26.9 per ton FOB.

The largest importer of Brazilian ore during the four-month period was China. The country imported 61.121 million tons from Brazil at an average price of US$25.5 per ton. The second largest export destination was Malaysia with 10.097 million tons. The export prices to Malaysia averaged at US$23.3 per ton. Japan imported 9.6 7 million tons of iron ore from Brazil during the initial four months of the year. The exports to Japan averaged at US$29.4 per ton.

Quarterly exports surge

Brazil’s iron ore exports during January to March this year totaled 85.302 million tons, up by 7.5% when compared with the same period last year. The country’s iron ore exports had totaled 79.345 million tons during Jan-Mar ’15. The iron ore export price averaged at $24.80 FOB per ton, substantially lower by 49% when compared with a year before. The value of iron ore exports out of the country totaled $2.118 billion during the quarter.

The largest destination of iron ore exports from Brazil was China. The exports to China during the initial three-month period of the year totaled 45.82 million tons, accounting for nearly 54% of the total exports by Brazil during the month. The second largest destination of Brazil’s iron ore exports was Malaysia. The exports to Malaysia totaled 7.879 million tons, accounting for 9.2% of the country’s total exports. The other key importers of Brazilian iron ore were Japan (7.203 million tons), Netherlands (5.431 million tons) and Korea (2.415 million tons).

Brazil’s iron ore exports during Jan ’16 totaled 25.037 million tons, up by 7.4% when compared with the same month previous year. Brazil’s iron ore exports during Feb ’16 totaled 27.447 million tons, up by 29% when compared with the previous month. Meantime, the country’s iron ore exports during the month of March alone amounted to $776 million, substantially lower by over 44% when compared with the exports during March 2015.

Australian exports rise

As per data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the country’s iron ore exports totaled 37.489 million tons during March this year, rising significantly by 9.7% over the previous year. The average export prices have declined by nearly 9% year-on-year to US$46.8 per ton FOB.

Quarterly exports

The quarterly iron ore exports by Australia totaled 1.879 billion tons during Q1 2016 at an average price of US$41.3 per ton. The key importer of Australian iron ore was China. The exports to the country totaled 1.53 billion tons at an average price of US$40.7 per ton. In second place was Japan with 18.184 million tons at an average price of US$45.2 per ton. The other export destinations of Australian iron ore were Korea (11.548 million tons) and Taiwan (4.166 million tons).


Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM‘s internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or to learn more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
"Premier Li Qiang Leads State Council Meeting on Enhancing Effective Investment, Boosting Economic Growth"
15 hours ago
"Premier Li Qiang Leads State Council Meeting on Enhancing Effective Investment, Boosting Economic Growth"
Read More
"Premier Li Qiang Leads State Council Meeting on Enhancing Effective Investment, Boosting Economic Growth"
"Premier Li Qiang Leads State Council Meeting on Enhancing Effective Investment, Boosting Economic Growth"
Premier Li Qiang presided over an executive meeting of the State Council to study policy measures for promoting effective investment. The meeting noted that promoting effective investment plays an important role in stabilizing economic growth and strengthening momentum for development. It is necessary to innovate and improve policy measures, and intensify efforts to enhance the efficiency of utilizing funds such as central budget investments, ultra-long-term special treasury bonds, local government special bonds, and new-type policy-based financial instruments. In conjunction with formulating and implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan
15 hours ago
"Guided by Xi Jinping Thought, Implement 20th CPC Congress Spirit, Apply New Development Philosophy...
15 hours ago
"Guided by Xi Jinping Thought, Implement 20th CPC Congress Spirit, Apply New Development Philosophy...
Read More
"Guided by Xi Jinping Thought, Implement 20th CPC Congress Spirit, Apply New Development Philosophy...
"Guided by Xi Jinping Thought, Implement 20th CPC Congress Spirit, Apply New Development Philosophy...
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the plenary sessions of the Party’s 20th Central Committee, fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy, strengthen top-level design, build computing power interconnection nodes oriented toward national hub periods, major strategic regions, and key industries, establish a system of computing power interconnection nodes, improve the efficiency and service level of public computing power resources, and promote high-quality development of computing power.
15 hours ago
Indirect Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Muscat Show Progress, Omani FM Mediates Tense but Efficient Discussions
15 hours ago
Indirect Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Muscat Show Progress, Omani FM Mediates Tense but Efficient Discussions
Read More
Indirect Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Muscat Show Progress, Omani FM Mediates Tense but Efficient Discussions
Indirect Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Muscat Show Progress, Omani FM Mediates Tense but Efficient Discussions
After intensive indirect consultations, the new round of nuclear talks between Iran and the US in Muscat, the capital of Oman, has achieved phased progress. It is reported that during this round of talks, the Iranian and US delegations did not meet directly. Instead, Omani Foreign Minister Badr acted as an intermediary, conveying a series of core proposals, strategic concerns, and policy positions to the other side. The atmosphere at the talks was tense yet efficient. According to preliminary on-site assessments, although both sides continue to negotiate over specific terms, they have reached a consensus on the key objective of "continuing dialogue."
15 hours ago