The Ministry of Commerce is looking at the monopolistic issues of the world’s three large miners, which have drawn attention from the European authorities as well. The ministry said changes have taken place in the iron ore supply market at home. The number of country from which China imports iron ore has scaled up from a dozen in the past to twenty or more, while the ratio of China’s dependence on overseas iron ore has declined to some 60 percent from the previous 70 percent. Temporarily quarterly prices are being employed between Chinese buyers and the mining giants. China imported 155 million tons of iron ore in the first three months of this year, up 18 percent.