Chinese Iron Ore, Coal and Soyabean Imports in October

Coal, Grain, Iron Ore

Chinese iron ore imports jumped 13.9 Mt year-on-year, the strongest annual gain since July, to 106.7 Mt in October, customs data show. Robust demand boosted receipts to 975.5 Mt in the first ten months of 2020, up 96.9 Mt and on course for the largest annual gain in six years.

By contrast, coal imports (including lignite) dropped to a year to date low of 13.7 Mt (-12.0 Mt), with January-October arrivals tumbling nearly 23 Mt to 253.3 Mt.

Meanwhile, the country’s soyabean imports continued to grow, rising 2.5 Mt to 8.7 Mt last month and growing 12.5 Mt to 83.2 Mt in the year to date.