CHINESE iron ore imports tumbled to their second-lowest this year, data showed yesterday, as steel mills and traders in the world’s top consumer held back on restocking amid expectations of further price falls.

    Shipments to China slid 15.1 percent to 67.4 million tons in November from the previous month and were down 13.4 percent on a year earlier, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs.

    The figure was the lowest since imports of 61.2 million tons in February, although total imports for the 11 months to November still rose 13.4 percent to 846 million tons from a year earlier.

    China’s steel exports, however, surged to a record high in November of 9.72 million tons, up 13.7 percent from the previous month, as producers took advantage of lower prices to offset weakening domestic demand.(SD-Agencies)