China's iron ore imports in June fell year-on-year, reaching their lowest level since February 2016, amid declining supplies from leading mining companies in Brazil and Australia, Chinese customs data released on Friday showed. >
According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China on Friday, the receipt of steelmaking raw materials last month was 75.18 million tons, which is more than 8 million tons less than last month and year-on-year.
According to customs data, in the first half of the year, the world's largest consumer of iron ore purchased 499.09 million tons of ore abroad, which is 5.9 percent less than in the same period last year.
Stocks of imported iron ore in Chinese ports fell to a three-month low of 115.25 million tonnes by the end of June, according to data compiled by consultancy SteelHome.
Chinese demand for iron ore may decline as China's largest steel cities tighten pollution control measures, including cutting production at factories, as local officials face growing pressure to meet air quality targets.
Smelting capacity utilization at steel mills across China fell to 66.02 percent as of Friday, the lowest level since late March, according to data compiled by consultants Mysteel.
