According to the statistics provided by Brazil's National Union of the Industry of Extraction of Iron and Base Metals in June this year Brazil's iron ore exports amounted to 23.6 million metric tonnes, falling by 5.6% YoY and down 26.25% compared to May this year.

In the first half of 2012, Brazilian iron ore exports remained unchanged year on year with a total of 135.9 million metric tonnes. Major domestic miner Vale's share in Brazil's total iron ore exports in the first six months of this year reached 89.7%, amounting to 121.9 million metric tons, down slightly by 0.3% compared to the corresponding period of 2011.

Brazilian iron ore pellet exports in June this year amounted to 4.8 million metric tonnes, rising by 7.1% year on year, while in the first half of the year Brazil's iron ore pellet exports fell to 25.6 million tonne, down 4.4% compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Brazil's total iron ore and pellet sales to its domestic market amounted to 14.5 million tonne in the first half of this year, decreasing 8.9% compared to the first half of 2011.

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