LONDON: The trade statistics released by the Taiwan’s Directorate General of Customs for the month of November 2015 indicates sharp fall in iron ore imports by the country. Taiwan’s iron ore imports during the month totaled 1.961 Million tonnes, down by 19.6% when compared with the imports during the same month a year ago. The import prices averaged at $59.9 per tonne, 31.8% lower year-on-year. The iron ore import prices during Nov ’14 had averaged at $87.9 per tonne.
The largest exporter of iron ore to Taiwan during November last year was Australia. The imports from Australia totaled 1.426 Million tonnes, accounting for over 72% of the total imports by Taiwan during the month. The second largest source of iron ore import by the country was Brazil with 395,828 tonnes, followed by Canada with 139,782 tonnes.
The cumulative iron ore imports by Taiwan during the initial eleven-month period of the year 2015 totaled 22.467 Million tonnes, marginally higher by 4.1% when matched with the imports of 21.590 Million tonnes during January to November in 2014. The average import prices were at $66.40 per tonne during the initial eleven-month period this year, dropping sharply by 40.2% when compared with the average import price of $111.00 per ton during Jan-Nov ’14.
The top three exporters of iron ore to Taiwan during the initial eleven-month period in 2015 were Australia (15.874 Million tonnes), Brazil (5.526 Million tonnes) and Canada (1.064 Million tonnes). The iron ore import prices from the top three exporting countries during Jan-Nov ’15 averaged at $62.60 per tonne, $73.60 per tonne and $84.30 per tonne respectively.
