It is a very select group, according to Richard Scott, associate of the China Centre (Maritime) at Southampton Solent University.
Countries which import by sea at least 100 million tonnes of any commodity annually are not numerous. In the dry bulk sector there are only five, one of which (EU) is not an individual country but a regional bloc.
And the annual world seaborne trade in all types of cargo is huge, reaching an estimated 10.5 billion tonnes in 2014. But most individual commodity imports by single countries are relatively small. Outside the dry bulk trades, only the oil sector has countries receiving at least 100mt annually, and that numbering just seven.
In dry bulk, China already qualifies as an iron ore and coal importer member in this elite ‘club’. But it has now also attained a similar status with its grain and soya imports.
The accompanying table shows the mammoth dry bulk commodity importers. In other countries around the world, individual commodity annual import volumes are mostly well below 100mt.
And Scott is confident that, based on current signs, any further additions to this ‘club’ in the near future, or perhaps for several years, seem unlikely.
