Iron ore exports from Brazil rose by 23% m/m in April

At the same time, pellet exports last month rose by 32% compared to March

Iron ore exports (excluding pellets) from Brazil rose by 23% in April compared to the previous month, reaching 31.7 million tons. This was reported by SteelOrbis, citing the Secretariat of the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade (Secex).

This market recovery is primarily driven by a 30% increase (compared to March) in shipments to China, where 25.3 million tons of raw material were shipped in April. In March, exports were held back by holidays and the scheduled shutdown of blast furnaces in China for maintenance during the first quarter of the year.

Asia remains the main market for Brazilian ore—28.7 million tons of raw material were shipped there in April. Next are:

• Europe – 1.3 million tons;
• South America – 822,000 tons;
• Africa – 516,000 tons.

At the same time, pellet exports in April rose by 32% compared to March, reaching 2.9 million tons. The bulk of shipments went to Asia (1 million tons). Meanwhile, deliveries to Europe totaled 686,000 tons, to Africa – 446,000 tons, and to the U.S. – 390,000 tons.

It is worth noting that, according to the country’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, iron ore exports from Brazil reached a record high of 416.4 million tons last year, a 7.1% increase year-on-year. This was the first time the annual figure exceeded 400 million tons, breaking the previous record of 390 million tons set in 2018. Overseas shipments were substantial in the final months of the year, exceeding 40 million tons per month in October and December.