According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, Japan's iron ore imports totaled 10.5 million metric tons in April this year, rising by 3.9 percent month on month and up 1.6 percent compared to April 2012. The ministry's data show that Japan's iron ore import value in April was almost $117.5 million, increasing by 8.7 percent compared to March and down 10.1 percent compared to the same month of 2012.
Japan's iron ore imports amounted to 42.85 million metric tons in the first four months of 2013, increasing by 2.5 percent year on year. In the period in question, Japan's iron ore imports from Australia rose by 9.5 percent compared to January-April 2012 to 27.3 million metric tons, while Brazil exported 11.1 million mt of iron ore to Japan, falling by 11 percent year on year.