OREANDA-NEWS. February 03, 2012. Customs data showed China imported 686 million tons of iron ore in 2011, up 10.9 percent in annual terms.

The average price of imported ore was USD 163.8 a ton, up 27 percent. Along with a decline in demand for iron ore worldwide, the prices of iron ore imports would continue to drop.

Between November and December last year, 66 percent Fe content iron concentrates was quoted at 1,250 yuan to 1,280 yuan a ton in Hebei, compared with the equivalent of 1,041 yuan to 1,195 yuan a ton for foreign iron ore of similar grade.