According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Finance, Japan's iron ore imports totaled 11.7 million metric tons in January this year, rising by 24 percent month on month and up 3.36 percent compared to January 2012.
In January of the current year, Japan's iron ore imports from Australia rose by 15.1 percent compared to January 2012 to 6.9 million metric tons, while Brazil exported 3.4 million mt of iron ore to Japan, rising by 1.9 percent year on year.
Japan's iron ore imports had amounted to 131.1 million metric tons in 2012, increasing by 2.1 percent year on year, following the 4.4 percent year-on-year decrease recorded in 2011. The ministry data show that Japan's iron ore import value in 2012 was almost $16.4 billion, decreasing by 10.2 percent compared to 2011.