Brazilian exports of iron ore and copper increased by volume and value while ferrous scrap exports saw a sharp decline in December 2020, according to the latest figures from the country’s ministry of economy.
Brazil’s iron ore and concentrates shipments rose by 32.4pc to 33.1mn mt in December 2020, from 25mn mt in the same month last year. Ferrous scrap shipments fell by 75.1pc to 16,104mt against 64,746mt in the same timeframe.
Exports of copper ores and concentrates rose by 9.3pc to 98,085mt from 89,735mt in December 2019 while shipments of nickel ores and concentrates doubled to 11,354mt in December on an annual basis. On the other hand, exports of aluminum ores and concentrates fell by 30.4pc to 373,413mt in December 2020, from 536,844mt in the same month of 2019.
Brazil also saw an increase in its shipments of automotive parts and accessories by 15.7pc to 31,495mt in December from 27,209mt in the same month of 2019.
Imports
Imports of copper ores and concentrates climbed by 25.3pc to 24,016mt in December 2020 from 19,158mt in December 2019 while imports of aluminum ores and concentrates also rose by 8.5pc to 55,557mt from 51,197mt in the same period.
Brazil’s crude steel production rose by 11.2pc to 2.9mn mt in November 2020, from 2.6mn mt in the same month in 2019, data by the World Steel Association (worldsteel) indicated.