Increase in iron ore imports

China imported 384.29 million metric tons of iron ore in the first half of the year, up 5.1 percent year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs on Wednesday.

The country's total iron ore imports in June reached 62.3 million metric tons, 6.26 million tons less, or a 9.1 percent drop, than the previous month but a 3.99 million ton increase, or up 6.8 percent, year-on-year.

The iron ore market in the first half was weaker than the previous year. The value of China's iron ore imports for the first half was $51.2 billion, up 0.3 percent year-on-year.

The average imported iron ore price during the first half was $133.2 a ton, down $6.3 per ton from with the same period last year.

The average imported iron ore price in June was $126.8 a ton, a $12 drop from May.