Australian iron ore exports fall in April

Australia's iron ore exports decreased by 1.6pc on the year to 73mn t in April, largely because of waning demand for Australian iron ore in South Korea, although exports may have grown in May.

• Total iron ore shipments from Western Australia hit a 2025 high in the week to 24 May, as UK-Australian producer Rio Tinto and Australian producer Fortescue ramped up sales.
• South Korean steelmakers bought 3.4mn t of iron ore in April, down by 18pc from 4.1mn t a year earlier. This decline came despite a broader increase in steelmaking input sales to South Korean producers. Australian coking coal exports to South Korea doubled on the year in April, while Chinese sales of ferro-silicon — a steel strengthening material — to South Korean firms rose by 32pc on the year in January-April.
• Australian iron ore exports to Japan rose by 4.5pc to 3.9mn t in April, from 3.8mn t a year earlier. Exports to Japan may continue to grow, as the country's crude steel output is expected to fall by 4.9pc on the year in April–June, according to its trade and industry ministry.
• Australia's main iron ore port, Port Hedland, could face labour disruptions soon. Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) workers recently rejected a collective bargaining agreement with Australian port authority Pilbara Ports. The union has not received strike authorisation yet, but is planning to hold a strike ballot, an MUA organiser told Argus on 2 June.
• Argus-assessed iron ore fines prices have declined since the start of April, with iron ore fines 62pc Fe cfr Qingdao last assessed at $94.95/t on 4 June, down from $103.75/t on 1 April.

By Avinash Govind

Australian iron ore exports (ABS) $/t