In 2009 Italy iron raw materials imports decreased by 49.7% compared to the previous year and amounted to 8.2 million tonnes. In 2008 Italy imported 16.3 million tonnes of iron ore raw materials.

Fig.1. Italy iron ore raw materials imports, million tonnes

Non-sintered iron ore made up 65.9% of overall Italy import volume of iron ore raw materials, sintered iron ore – 34.1%.
In 2009 Italy sintered iron ore imports decreased by 55.2% compared to the previous year and amounted to 2.8 million tonnes. Non-sintered iron ore imports amounted to 5.4 million tonnes, that is by 46.8% less than the figure of the previous year.

Fig.2. Italy iron ore raw materials import structure

63% of overall Italy iron ore volume (both sintered and non-sintered) was imported from Brazil. In 2009 Italy imports from Brazil totaled 4.6 million tonnes, that is by 60.5% less than the import figure of 2008.

A considerable part of iron ore raw materials was imported from Mauritania (22%), with Mauritania importing only non-sintered iron ore to Italy. This import volume decreased by 0.8% and amounted to 1.6 million tonnes in 2009.

Fig.3. Italy iron ore raw materials import structure by countries, %

Russia holds the third place by iron ore raw materials imports to Italy. According to the data by Italy customs statistics, import volume from Russia decreased by 12.8% in 2009 and amounted to 0.6 million tonnes of sintered iron ore.
In 2009 0.5 million tonnes (7%) of iron ore raw materials was imported from the Republic of South Africa, that is by 36.9% less then the import figure of 2008.