Brazilian iron ore exports up 33% in December amid higher prices

Brazil’s iron ore exports increased by a third in December compared with a year earlier, according to statistics from the country’s economy ministry.

It shipped 33.17 million tonnes of the steelmaking raw material last month, compared with 24.99 million tonnes in December 2019.

Strong demand for steel in in China has led to mills in the country increasing their iron ore consumption, pushing prices for the steelmaking raw material to their highest in at least nine years.

Fastmarkets’ daily index for iron ore 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao averaged $155.35 per tonne in December 2020, up by 69% compared with $91.85 per tonne a year earlier.

The index was at $165.29 per tonne on Monday January 4.

Prices for Brazilian iron ore averaged $90.50 per tonne fob in December, up by 51.08% from $59.90 per tonne a year earlier, according to Brazil’s economy ministry.

The higher prices and volumes resulted in revenues from these exports doubling year on year to $3 billion last month, compared with $1.5 billion in December 2019.

Gain critical information on the demand drivers shaping the iron ore sector, including Chinese steelmaking and production forecasts in 2021 and beyond. Click here to register for the two-day virtual event Global Iron Ore 2021, to access all the related reports, news, and information free on demand.

What to read next
The Montréal Wood Convention 2026 revealed a North American wood products market at a turning point, with supply rationalizing and demand recovery pushed to 2027.
China's Tsingshan Holding Group is in talks with potential project partners about building another aluminium smelter in North Maluku, Indonesia, sources told Fastmarkets in the week to Thursday April 16.
For decades, tungsten sat on the margins of US industrial policy. Despite its essential role in armor piercing munitions, aerospace alloys and advanced manufacturing, the ultra hard metal was sourced overwhelmingly from China, while US domestic mining faded from view.
Fastmarkets has decided to change the PIX Pulp China BHKP Net assessment seller side weighting table.
China's planned sulfuric acid export ban from May 1, historic lows for copper concentrates treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) and a fragmenting 2026 benchmark system dominated CESCO Week 2026 in Santiago from April 13-17.
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on its pricing methodology and product specifications for ferrous metals, as part of its announced annual methodology review process. The consultation, which was open until April 2, sought to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the physical ferrous metals markets, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commission […]