The iron ore imports of the northeastern Chinese province of Hebei increased by 60.59 percent in 2009, registering the highest-ever year-on-year increase and the highest-ever volume.
General secretary of the province's metallurgical industry association, Dayong Wang, told reporters that in 2009 Hebei Province imported 82.77 million mt of iron ore, up 31.22 million mt or 60.59 percent year on year. This import tonnage accounted for 13.18 percent of China's total iron ore imports in 2009, while the increase rate was 19.09 percentage points higher than the average increase rate for the whole country. Hebei's main sources of iron ore imports in 2009 were still Australia, Brazil and India, with respective shares of 49.58 percent, 26.56 percent and 11.95 percent.
According to Mr Wang, the surge in iron ore imports in Hebei may be attributed to inadequate supplies of locally produced iron ore in the context of the rapid development of the domestic steel industry triggered by the government's economic stimulus measures, and may also be attributed to the relatively low iron ore import prices when compared with 2008 levels.