<article><p class="lead">China's iron ore imports rose by 8.2pc to 108.55mn t in September from August, the second-highest on record, preliminary customs data showed today. </p><p>September imports rose by 9.2pc from a year earlier and were shy of July's record 112.65mn t. </p><p>January-September iron ore imports increased by 10.8pc to 868.46mn t from the same period in 2019. </p><p>The <i>Argus</i> ICX 62pc index rose to a six-year high of $130.55/dry metric tonne (dmt) on 3 September, up by 59pc from late April before heavy rains and Covid-19 lockdowns <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2110102">slowed shipments</a> from Brazilian mining firm Vale. The supply hiccups occurred as China's steel output rose to <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2141259">a new record high in August</a>. China's iron ore inventories drew down even as China's largest iron ore supplier Australia <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2129127">kept shipments strong</a> and other regions diverted shipments to China, lifting Brazilian exports to China to a <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2142642">record high in August</a>. </p><p>Brazil's iron ore exports rose to <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/2147604">a two-year high in September</a> on Asian demand. </p><p>Iron ore shipments from Australia have remained above average in the second half of September and again last week <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/2149546">for the fourth week in a row</a>. </p><p class="bylines">By China staff</p></article>
