Bahrain pellet exports decline despite expanded geography

Bahraini exports of agglomerated iron ore declined -14% on-year in June to 532,272 tonnes, according to Information and eGovernment Authority data monitored by Kallanish. Their average value was $157/tonne versus $131/t in June 2018.

More countries sourced from Bahrain than in 2018, with Egypt, Libya, Tonga and even Brazil taking in 169,912 tonnes, 102,006t, 66,864t and 54,416t respectively versus zero a year earlier. But Omani intake slumped -65% to 139,074t. United Arab Emirates, moreover, took in zero versus over 220,000t a year earlier.

The main source of Bahrain's non-agglomerated iron ore feedstock for pellet making in June was Brazil, which supplied 807,713t, up 145% on-year. Canada and Norway also supplied 167,761t and 160,291t respectively versus zero a year earlier.

Bahrain also supplied 4,500t of direct reduced iron to Indonesia, while last year its sole market was Saudi Arabia with 61,986t.

Exports of billet, meanwhile, slumped -64% in June to 41,776t, with Saudi Arabia and UAE taking in 26,167t and 15,609t respectively. This was down -32% in Saudi’s case but up from virtually zero for UAE. Indonesia, however, sourced zero versus over 78,000t in June 2018.

India increased ferrous scrap intake from Bahrain by 16% to 7,610t but Pakistan sourced -14% less at 4,178t.