Iron ore arrivals at Chinese ports rose 1.5 million mt on week

SHANGHAI, Dec 15(SMM) – A total of 89 vessels carrying 14.65 million mt of iron ore arrived at major Chinese ports during December 6-12, SMM estimates. This was up 1.5 million mt from the previous week but down 1.61 million mt from the same period last year.

For the same week, iron ore deliveries leaving Australian ports declined 1.22 million mt on a weekly basis to 14.46 million mt, barely changed on the year. Shipments from Port Hedland shrank compared with the prior week due to impact of hurricane.

Shipments that departed Brazilian ports were estimated to increase 800,000 mt week on week to 7.29 million mt. This was 1.14 million mt higher than the same period last year.