According to a report released by the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), in April this year nickel imported by Germany for steel production was 120.9 percent more expensive compared to April 2009 and was up by 12.9 percent compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, the import price of iron ore decreased by 9.7 percent year on year, but was up 21.9 percent month on month. April was the fifth consecutive month in which the import price of iron ore increased.
The import price of iron and steel and ferroalloys rose 27.4 percent year on year, while the month-on-month increase rate was recorded at 10.6 percent.