According to Korea's trade statistics, exports and imports of ferroalloys during January to September 2011 as well as in the single month of September were as per the tables attached hereto.

Imports
Total monthly imports in September was 72,858 tonnes, down by 28.0% MoM, showing a material drop from August's temporary recovery, to low 70,000's, the lowest monthly result recorded not only this year but also in 21 months. Compared with the same month in 2010, this figure shows a drop of 29.7%.

Of the major ferroalloys, ferrosilicon (Si>55%) and ferrochrome (of high carbon and low carbon) were responsible for the drop in total imports. Imports of ferrosilicon from China and of high carbon ferrochrome from South Africa and Kazakhstan all decreased.

Imports of ores during September were, 115,712 tonnes of manganese ore, up 10.3% from August, 162,543 tonnes of nickel ore, up 50.5% and 204 tonnes of chrome ore, down 74%.

Exports
Total monthly export in August 2011 was 25,447 tonnes, substantially down from the preceding month by 23.7%. This is in the lower side of a band between 24,000 to 33,000 tonnes, within which fell in zigzag the data of past months since earlier this year.

Low and high carbon ferromanganese and silicomanganese were the pullers of the decrease. Quantity wise, ferromanganese was primarily responsible for it.

(Sourced from TEX Report Limited)