Global pig iron trade falls in 2021 as China import down

USA re-emerges as top seaborne buyer. Russia export tariffs boost supplies by other exporters. Continued restrictions on BF production in China may trigger imports.

Global seaborne trade in pig iron shrunk by 3.4% in calendar year'21 (CY'21) to just over 13 million tonnes (mnt) from 13.83 mnt in CY'20 on lower imports by the world's top steel producer, China, which was somewhat offset by the USA increasing sourcing on higher demand amid increasing