Iron ore, scrap import situation in China

Iron ore, scrap import situation in China

Recent data from Chinese customs show that through the first five months of 2005 China imported 106.14 million tons of iron ore worth a combined $7.28 billion. In May the country imported 21.75 million tons of iron ore, 8.67 million tons of which came from Australia. China also imported 5.9 million tons of iron ore from India, 3.67 million tons from Brazil and 1.24 million tons from South Africa in May. Meanwhile, the scrap imports of China exceeded 4.19 million tons through the first five months, with May alone accounting for 815'100 tons. The U.S. has been the largest exporter of scrap to China so far this year. In May, China received 212'100 tons of scrap from the U.S., bringing its total U.S. scrap imports to 998'000 tons through the first five months. Kazakhstan followed a close second, having sent 185'000 tons in May and a total of 875'000 tons through the first five months. Japan's exports fell to 126'400 tons in May, while its five-month total came in at 821'000 tons.