China Jan iron ore imports up 33 pct y/y at record 86.84 mln T - customs

BEIJING, Feb 12 (Reuters) - China imported a record 86.84 million tonnes of iron ore in January, up 33 percent compared with the same month last year and exceeding the previous high of 77.8 million tonnes in November, customs data showed on Wednesday.

Analysts expected shipments to China, the world's biggest iron ore consumer, to have fallen over the month, with stockpiles at major ports at their highest level since November 2012 and prices declining to a six-month low last month.

(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Richard Pullin)

((david.stanway@thomsonreuters.com)(+86 10 6627 1289)(Reuters Messaging: david.stanway.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: CHINA IRONORE/TRADE