According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, Japan's iron ore imports totaled 13.21 million metric tons in May this year, rising by 26 percent month on month and up 1.8 percent compared to May 2012. The ministry's data show that Japan's iron ore import value in May was almost $ 176,8 million, increasing by 50.5 percent compared to April and up 15.8 percent compared to the same month of 2012.
Japan's iron ore imports amounted to 56.06 million metric tons in the first five months of 2013, increasing by 2.3 percent year on year. In the period in question, Japan's iron ore imports from Australia rose by 7.8 percent compared to January-May 2012 to 35.6 million metric tons, while Brazil exported 14.6 million mt of iron ore to Japan, falling by 8.5 percent year on year.