This was a 9.8% increase from the 2,262,000 permit tons recorded in December and a 12.7% increase from the December final imports total of 2,203,000.

Brazilian iron-ore miner Vale SA's profit fell in the fourth quarter after the price of iron ore and sales by volume both declined.

Russia plans to post a budget deficit in 2023 of 2% of gross domestic product (GDP), Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Friday, despite towering spending and slumping energy revenues contributing to a huge shortfall in January.

Russian Nornickel expects primary nickel demand rise to 3.35mn t in 2023.

In particular, the central and western regions are forecast to better receive foreign investment relocated from labor-intensive industries in coastal areas where labor costs have increased, they said.

Shu Jueting, a ministry spokeswoman, said the two sides discussed trade and investment issues and exchanged views on the further expansion of cooperation in emerging areas.

The wind power and photovoltaic projects are located in Shenyang, Dalian, Dandong, Yingkou and Chaoyang cities.

Earnings at Rio Tinto and BHP Group are seen declining 48% and 28%, respectively, for the six months to December 2022, while Fortescue's half-year earnings are set to slide about 16%, based on estimates from Visible Alpha and Vuma Financial.