Brazil exported 31.577 million mt of iron ore (pellets excluded) in August, 8.9 percent more than in July, according to the country’s ministry of industry, foreign trade and services, MDIC.
Asia remained the top destination (24.058 million mt, of which 19.749 million mt to China), followed by the EU (5.370 million mt), the Middle East (858,700 mt), Latin America (676,900 mt) and Turkey (339,300 mt).
Meanwhile, the country’s exports of pellets increased by 11 percent to 2.548 million mt, of which 754,100 mt went to the EU, 697,000 mt to Africa, 528,300 to Asia and 294,500 mt to the US.
In Brazil, the most recent iron ore prices are stable on a weekly basis, reflecting slightly increased prices in the Chinese spot market and also slightly increased ocean freight rates. For lumps, however, the reference price decreased due to a reduced premium over equivalent sinter feed fines.
Sinter feed fines of 65 percent iron contents are now traded for export from Brazil at $71/mt, lumps at $83/mt and blast furnace grade pellets at $115/mt, FOB conditions.
In the Brazilian domestic market, the prices are now $65/mt for sinter feed fines, $77/mt for lumps and $109/mt for blast furnace grade pellets, ex-works, no taxes included.