Brazil exported 29.07 million mt of iron ore (pellets excluded) in September, 7.9 percent less than in August, according to the country’s ministry of foreign trade, industry and services, MDIC. The downturn reflects reduced shipments to all world regions except the Middle East, were the volume reached 1.66 million mt, 93 percent more than in August.
Exports to Asia declined by 5.3 percent to 22.78 million mt, of which 16.29 million mt to China, a 17.5 percent reduction, while exports to the EU declined by 27 percent to 3.94 million mt, exports to South America declined by 31 percent to 379,300 mt and exports to Turkey declined by 50 percent to 170,800 mt.
Conversely, pellet exports increased by 12 percent to 2.86 million mt, reflecting exports to Asian countries increasing by 87 percent to 990,000 mt. Other destinations of pellets were the EU (down 23 percent to 580,300 mt), Africa (down 7.3 percent to 646,400 mt), the Middle East (205,300 mt from zero in August), South America (down 1.8 percent to 189,100 mt) and Trinidad and Tobago (up 90 percent to 154,800 mt).
On a weekly basis, the price of the Brazilian ore declined in average by $1/mt , with sinter feed fines of 65 percent iron contents are now traded for export at $56/mt, lumps at $84/mt and blast furnace grade pellets at $100/mt, FOB conditions.
In the Brazilian domestic market, the prices are now $50/mt for sinter feed fines, $78/mt for lumps and $94/mt for blast furnace grade pellets, ex-works, no taxes included.