Brazilian iron ore exports rose month-on-month in May, according to the latest Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (Mdic) data monitored by Kallanish. Year-to-date shipments abroad also remained higher.

Brazil’s exports of iron ore reached 26.7 million tonnes in May. This volume was 4.3% more over April’s 25.6mt and 24.2% higher year-on-year. January-May shipments abroad reached 133.5mt, up 16.1% over the first five months in 2020.

Shipments abroad had an fob value of $3.5 billion in May, up 2.9% on-month and 156% higher on-year. Five-month export value rose 113.8% to $16.2 billion.

The main destination for Brazilian iron ore exports in January-May was China, which took 60% of shipments. Malaysia and Bahrain were the next-largest importers, with shares of 8% and 4.3% respectively.