NDRC Warns Acute Shortfall of Iron Ore Handling Capacity

The National Development and Reform Commission said China will accelerate the building of port infrastructure in the 2011-15 period notably facilities dedicated to handling foreign iron ore.

By the end of 2010 China's seaborne iron ore handling capacity amounted to 320 million tons. This figure will perhaps increase to 500 million tons by 2015 given the already approval of Rizhao, Zhanjiang and Qingzhou ports and potential sites in Yantai and Zhoushan.

But even such a capacity will still fall short of its requirements in the future. By 2015, China whose iron ore demand may reach 940 million tons needs to import 560 million tons of iron ore, 540 million tons of which will be acquired from Australia, Brazil, India and South Africa.