SÃO PAULO — Brazil’s iron ore exports fell 1.3 percent last year to 326.5 million tonnes, Brazilian customs figures show.

China took 169.94 million tonnes of that, accounting for 52 percent of the total vs. a 49.6-percent share in 2011.

Exports to the European Union fell 10.9 percent to 55.82 million tonnes from 62.62 million tonnes in 2011, while those to Japan declined 16.5 percent to 31.17 million tonnes from 37.33 million tonnes.

In December, China’s intake of Brazilian iron ore fell 7.8 percent year on year to 17.01 million tonnes, Europe’s fell 15.8 percent to 4.66 million tonnes and Japan’s fell 3.6 percent to 4.72 million tonnes. 

A version of this article was first published by AMM sister publication Steel First.