Iranian exports of iron ore in the first seven months of the Iranian year (April-October) were 11.8% higher year on year at 11.09 million mt, mines and metals state holding company Imidro said.
The exports had a value of $612 million, up 60.6%.
Iran imported 193,000 mt of metallurgical coal and coke in the period, 27% higher. Imports of met coal were expected to increase further following a fatal explosion in one of the country's main coal mines in May, which shut the operation, an Iranian trader in Tehran said.
Iron ore exports will reach 20 million mt or more in the current Iranian year (to March 2018), mainly of iron ore concentrates, the trader said.
Most of the exports are from large state miners and private mines do not play a significant role in the export business, the trader said.
China is the main target market for Iranian iron ore, taking more than 90% of the country's iron ore export shipments.
