Nov iron ore imports highest since Jan 2011

China's November iron ore imports rose 17 percent from the previous month to their highest in almost two years, according to customs data issued on Monday, as mills stocked up on raw material for steelmaking due to higher profit margins.

Imports were 65.78 million metric tons in November, their highest since January 2011. Total imports in the first 11 months of the year were 672.9 million tons, up 8 percent compared to the same period a year ago.