According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, Japan's iron ore imports totaled 10.1 million metric tons in March this year, falling by five percent month on month and down 4.8 percent compared to March 2012. The ministry's data show that Japan's iron ore import value in March of the current year was $107.3 million, decreasing by 20.3 percent compared to the same month of 2012.
Japan's iron ore imports amounted to 32.4 million metric tons in the first quarter of 2013, increasing by 2.8 percent year on year. In the period in question, Japan's iron ore imports from Australia rose by six percent compared to January-March 2012 to 19.6 million metric tons, while Brazil exported 9.3 million mt of iron ore to Japan, falling by 3.9 percent year on year.