Brazil's iron ore exports rose 23 percent amid increased shipments to China

Exports of Brazilian iron ore (excluding pellets) reached 31.710 million tons in April compared to 25.768 million tons in March, according to Secex, the secretariat of the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

The increase mainly reflects a higher volume of exports to China: 25.263 million tons in April versus 19.471 million tons in March. The decline in exports in March was due to holidays and seasonal shutdowns for maintenance of blast furnaces in this country in the first quarter.

The main export destinations were Asia (28,681 million tons), Europe (1,298 million tons), South America (821,600 tons), Africa (516,400 tons) and Mexico (392,400 tons). tons).

At the same time, pellet exports increased by 32 percent to 2,858 million tons, with shipments to Asia (1,009 million tons), Europe (686,300 tons), Africa (445,600 tons), the United States (390,100 tons) and Trinidad and Tobago (280,000 tons), Secex. the data shows.