Brazil exported 32.9 million mt of iron ore (pellets excluded) in October, 13 percent more than in September, according to the country’s ministry of industry, foreign trade and services, MDIC.
Most of the increase reflects shipments to Asia (up 15 percent to 26.2 million mt, of which 19.6 million mt to China, a 20 percent increase), and to the EU (up 20 percent to 4.7 million mt).
Other destinations included Turkey (447,900 mt) and South America (338,800 mt).
Conversely, pellet exports declined by 17 percent to 2.4 million mt, destined to the EU (710,400 mt), Asia (532,900 mt), the US (340,500 mt), Egypt (315,700 mt) and South America (225,400 mt).
Over the last week, Brazilian iron ore has benefited from increased prices in the Chinese export market, coupled with stable ocean freight rates, increasing in average by $2/mt
The country’s sinter feed fines of 65 percent iron contents are now traded for export at $56/mt, lumps at $73/mt and blast furnace grade pellets at $102/mt, FOB conditions.
In the Brazilian domestic market, the prices are now $50/mt for sinter feed fines, $67/mt for lumps and $96/mt for blast furnace grade pellets, ex-works, no taxes included.