According to the latest statistics from the General Administration of Customs, China imported 108.085 million mt of iron ore and concentrates in July, down 4.09% MoM but up 3.50% YoY. Cumulative imports of iron ore and concentrates from January to July reached 736.841 million mt, up 5.9% YoY. Reviewing July , global iron ore shipments gradually pulled back after the Q1 quarter-end push, only recovering at the month-end. Customs data showed that China’s iron ore and concentrates imports in July stood at 108.085 million mt, edging down 4.08% MoM. SMM statistics indicated that global shipments for the month totaled 156.60 million mt, up 14.18% MoM, with notable growth from both Australia and Brazil. Affected by typhoon weather, the pace of China’s port arrivals fluctuated significantly more than shipments, showing a low-then-high pattern over the month, with total arrivals rising 17.04% MoM to 134.16 million mt. The phased increases in July shipments and arrivals were more attributable to short-term factors such as statistical periods and weather disruptions rather than growth in supply capability. The first week of July’s statistical period (June 27–July 3) included one more week compared with June, and the concentrated replenishment of arrivals at month-end caused by weather conditions also contributed to this growth. Looking ahead to August , Brazil enters its peak shipping season in Q3, while Australian shipments, after a relatively low start in the new fiscal year, will gradually recover month by month, providing a positive boost to August arrivals from mainstream mines. However, West Africa remains in the rainy season, and a substantial rebound in non-mainstream shipments will have to wait until Q4. At the same time, frequent typhoon weather recently is expected to disrupt the pace of arrivals, potentially leading to a short-term decline. On the demand side, weather factors continue to suppress downstream operating rates, which in turn will persistently dampen iron ore demand. In addition, the August statistical period will be one week shorter than July on a MoM basis. Therefore, iron ore shipments and arrivals at Chinese ports in August are expected to decline MoM from July.

According to the latest statistics from the General Administration of Customs, China imported 108.085 million mt of iron ore and concentrates in July, down 4.09% MoM and up 3.50% YoY. In January-July, cumulative imports of iron ore and concentrates reached 736.841 million mt, up 5.9% YoY. Looking back at July, global iron ore shipments pulled back gradually after the Q1 quarter-end push for target, only rebounding at month-end. According to customs data, China's imports of iron ore and concentrates in July stood at 108.085 million mt, edging down 4.08% MoM. SMM statistics show that global shipments in the month reached 156.60 million mt, up 14.18% MoM, with notable growth from both Australia and Brazil. Affected by typhoons, fluctuations in China's port arrival pace were significantly larger than those in shipments, with the month showing a low-then-high pattern, as total port arrivals grew 17.04% MoM to 134.16 million mt. The phased increase in shipments and port arrivals in July was more attributable to short-term factors such as statistical cycles and weather disruptions, rather than growth in supply capability. The first week of July's statistical period (June 27 to July 3) was one week more than in June, and the concentrated replenishment of port arrivals at month-end caused by weather also contributed to the increase. Looking ahead to August, Brazil enters its peak shipping season in Q3, while Australian mines had a low first month of the new fiscal year and are expected to recover month by month. Mainstream ores will provide a positive boost to port arrivals in August; however, West Africa remains in its rainy season, and a substantial rebound in non-mainstream shipments will have to wait until Q4. Meanwhile, with frequent typhoons recently, the port arrival pace is expected to be disrupted, potentially leading to short-term declines. On the demand side, weather conditions continue to suppress downstream operating rates, which will in turn keep iron ore demand in check. Furthermore, the statistical period in August will be one week shorter than in July on a MoM basis. Therefore, iron ore shipments and port arrivals to China in August are expected to decline MoM from July.

According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs, China imported 112.689 million mt of iron ore and concentrates in June, up 14.978 million mt from the previous month and up 15.3% MoM. In January-June, imports of iron ore and concentrates totaled 628.868 million mt, up 6.3% YoY. Looking back at June, the pattern of strong supply and weak demand for iron ore gradually emerged. On the supply side, shipments and port arrivals rebounded MoM multiple times during the month. Although port inventories briefly destocked slightly mid-month, the destocking speed slowed at month-end, and the assessment of overall ample supply persisted throughout the month. On the demand side, hot metal output once picked up early in the month and mid-month. However, from late June, as steel mill profits were squeezed and blast furnace maintenance increased, pig iron production reached an inflection point and is expected to continue weakening. Iron ore fundamentals continued their bearish pattern. However, considering that June had more working days than May, the statistical approach may partly reflect the MoM rise in iron ore import volumes in June. Looking ahead to July, downstream demand in China's steel industry chain continues to fall amid the off-season. Meanwhile, demand in markets outside China is also weakening in tandem. The combined dynamics in and outside China are leading to a downward inflection in domestic pig iron output, and overall iron ore demand is beginning to weaken. In addition, July marks the traditional off-season for iron ore shipments. In the off-season, iron ore mines generally opt to reduce shipments to stabilize market prices. Therefore, considering supply-demand fundamentals, China's iron ore imports in July are expected to decline MoM.

According to the latest statistics from the General Administration of Customs, China imported 112,689 kt of iron ore and concentrates in June, up 14,978 kt MoM, a 15.3% MoM increase. Cumulative imports of iron ore and concentrates in January-June reached 628,868 kt, up 6.3% YoY. Looking back at June, the pattern of strong supply and weak demand for iron ore gradually emerged. On the supply side, shipments and port arrivals rebounded MoM multiple times during the month. Although port inventory experienced a brief slight destocking mid-month, the destocking speed slowed at month-end, and the overall assessment of relatively loose supply persisted throughout the month. On the demand side, hot metal output briefly rebounded at the start and middle of the month, but from late June onward, as steel mill profits were squeezed and blast furnace maintenance intensified, pig iron production reached an inflection point and was expected to continue weakening, keeping the overall fundamentals of iron ore bearish. However, given that June had more working days than May, the statistics may have reflected a MoM increase in iron ore imports in June. Looking ahead to July, downstream demand in China's steel industry chain continued to decline amid the off-season, while demand in markets outside China weakened simultaneously. The combined impact of domestic and international conditions drove China's pig iron production to a downward inflection point, and overall iron ore demand began to weaken. Moreover, July is traditionally the off-season for iron ore shipments, and iron ore mines generally opt to reduce shipments to stabilize market prices under such conditions. Therefore, considering fundamental supply and demand, China's iron ore imports in July are expected to decline MoM.

According to preliminary data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), Turkey's iron ore imports experienced an explosive growth in the first quarter of 2026, surging by 33.9% year-on-year to hit 2.88 million metric tons (mt), while the total import value advanced by 29.8% to $372.10 million. Brazil consolidated its position as the undisputed top supplier, exporting 1.42 million mt during the quarter, representing a steady 15.6% increase year-on-year. Notably, Norway and Russia recorded massive expansions to gain substantial market shares: imports from Norway skyrocketed by an unprecedented 194.5% year-on-year to reach 318,400 mt, while Russian shipments jumped by 142.1% year-on-year to 522,600 mt, successfully replacing traditional volumes from Ukraine and Sweden. The market impact demonstrates a rapid production recovery among Turkish integrated blast furnace steelmakers who are aggressively restocking premium raw materials. This strategic shift toward Norwegian and Russian origins highlights a deep restructuring of Turkey's merchant ore procurement, which is expected to provide firm structural support for global high-grade iron ore and pellet price benchmarks as regional steel utilization rates climb.

According to the latest data from the GACC. China has imported 97.711 Mt of iron ore and concentrates in May, down 6.143 Mt MoM, a decline of 5.9%. Cumulative imports in January-May reached 516.258 Mt, increased 6.3% YoY. In May, the operating rate of China's steel industry remained high, with strong downstream demand supporting high pig iron production at steel mills. Given wider profit margins, mills' appetite for iron ore remained solid. That said, elevated port inventories and a persistent decline in ore prices in late May squeezed import margins and partly curbed buying interest. In addition, iron ore prices in May were affected by adjustments to the statistical cycle and the Labour Day holiday, resulting in fewer statistical days compared with April. Some enterprises also made customs declarations ahead of schedule, leading to a notable MoM decline in iron ore imports in May. June iron ore imports are expected to grow. On one hand, June, as the final month of Q2, will prompt some mines to accelerate production and shipping paces to meet shipment targets. On the other, although the market is starting to enter the traditional off-season for steel, ex-China steel demand is still able to drive Chinese steel exports, leaving mills sufficient surplus to maintain blast furnace operating rates. Hot metal output in June is also projected to stay elevated, providing rigid demand support for iron ore. Supply-demand synergy is expected to lift iron ore imports in June.