The coastal city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province saw its iron ore import volume jump 78 percent year on year, reaching 8.14 million metric tons in the first quarter, according to the city authorities.

The import value during the first three months this year rose by 19 percent compared to the same period last year, adding up to $390 million, a figure nine percent higher than the fourth quarter of last year.

Authorities attributed the good result to the positive market trade situation in South China and the operation of the Baosteel Zhanjiang Base.

Statistics from the first quarter show that Brazil and Australia remained the major importers of iron ore to Zhanjiang, followed by Ukraine, South Africa, Canada, UAE, Russia and Peru.

The volume of iron ore used for the Baosteel Zhanjiang Base has accounted for one third of the total iron ore imported to Zhanjiang Port since the steel base went into operation last September.

Zhanjiang Port has connections with more than 100 countries and regions and handles in excess of 600,000 containers in 2015. [Photo/yinsha.com]