China’s iron ore imports down 9% YoY in Jan

The Australian iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group released a production report today. The report showed that iron ore shipments in the second quarter increased by 4.7% from the first quarter, benefiting from the surge in Chinese demand.

A total of 89 vessels carrying 14.65 million mt of iron ore arrived at major Chinese ports during December 6-12, SMM estimates.

Xintian Steel Group Zhasan Iron & Steel was required to eliminate all of its capacity to comply with Tianjin’s steel industry policies following the issuance of Work Plan to Fight and Prevent Pollution in 2019 on July 3, 2018. As of September 17, 2020, Zhasan Iron & Steel has shut down completely, resulting in a daily loss of 8,000 mt of pig iron output. The mill mainly produced steel billets and had two 1,260 m³ blast furnaces and two 120 mt converters, with annual steel capacity of 3 million mt.

A total of 93 vessels carrying 15.22 million mt of iron ore arrived at eight major Chinese ports during July 19-25, SMM estimates. That fell 1.67 million mt from the prior week but rose 810,000 mt from the previous year.

SMM data showed that iron ore stocks across 35 Chinese ports increased 2.31 million mt in the week ended July 24 to 105.21 million mt, larger than a 1.48 million mt gain in the previous week.

China imported 9.54 million mt of bauxite in May, down 3.98% from the previous month but up 3.57% from the same month of 2019, according to China customs data under HS code 26060000.

Last year, the Republic of Guinea, Australia, and Indonesia remained the top three bauxite exporters to China, with their combined volume accounting for over 94% of the China’s total bauxite imports

China imported 4.32 million mt of nickel ore and concentrate last month, down 27.91% from November

In Sep, China imported 114,000 mt of aluminium scrap, down 19.1% month on month but up 17.5% year on year

China’s imports of stainless steel rose 55.33% from Jun to 73,900 mt in Jul