SHANGHAI, Feb 9 (SMM) – A total of 96 vessels carrying 13.63 million mt of iron ore arrived at major Chinese ports during January 31-February 6, SMM estimates. This was down 3.45 million mt from the previous week, but up 3.38 million mt from the same period last year. Fewer shipments from Australia led to the decline in iron ore arrivals.

For the same week, iron ore deliveries leaving Australian ports plunged 3.79 million mt on a weekly basis to 11.52 million mt due to closure of ports in Western Australia under the influence of tropical low-pressure cyclones from the end of January to the beginning of February.

Shipments that departed Brazilian ports were estimated to fall 2.1 million mt week on week to 5.66 million mt. This was 550,000 mt higher than the same period last year.