Beijing, Aug. 23: Imports of iron ore from India plummeted for a second straight month, falling 21 per cent in July to 6.547 million tonnes with heavy monsoons disrupting transport, customs data showed on Monday.
The shortfall was offset by shipments from elsewhere, with Australian ores rising 10 percent month on month to 23.13 million tonnes, and Brazilian ores up 22 per cent to 10.27 million tonnes.
Australia, Brazil and India, the three biggest supplier countries, delivered 77.9 percent of China’s total imports over the month, down from 80 percent in June.
Total imports reached 51.2 million tonnes in July, ending three consecutive monthly declines and rising 9 per cent compared with June. The ore cost an average of $141.17 per tonne, up $1.33.
China’s steel product exports reached 4.55 million tonnes in July, down 19 percent from June. Exports of pig iron stood at 20,000 tonnes, down from 150,000 tonnes in the previous month.