BEIJING, March 10 (Reuters) – China’s iron ore imports in the first two months of 2026 rose 10% from a year earlier, customs data showed on Tuesday, thanks to stronger exports from Australia, the world’s biggest supplier, and greater domestic demand.
The world’s biggest iron ore consumer brought in 210.02 million tonnes of the key steel-making ingredient in January and February, up from 191.36 million tonnes the previous year.
The growth was mainly attributed to strong exports from Australia in December, as the country did not suffer as many weather-related disruptions as the previous year, said Alexis Ellender, an analyst at ship tracking firm Kpler.
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China combines January and February import data to soften the impact of the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, which fell in February this year.
Improving domestic demand also supported rising iron ore imports, analysts said.
Average daily pig iron production, an indicator of iron ore demand, increased 1.2% year-on-year in the first two months of 2026, according to data from consultancy Mysteel.
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The number from January to February corresponds to a monthly average of 105.01 million tonnes, compared to 119.65 million tonnes in December.
Kpler’s Ellender expects March imports to reach almost 105 million tonnes.
China’s steel exports in the first two months fell 8.1% from a year earlier to 15.59 million tonnes, as export licensing requirements slowed shipments.
In December, Beijing revealed a plan to implement a licensing system from 2026 to regulate steel exports, after strong shipments fueled a growing protectionist backlash around the world.
