Port Hedland, Australia's main iron ore export port, was active again on December 22 after a severe cyclone passed the area without causing any damage, international newswires have reported.
The international port, which is expected to ship around 175 million mt of iron ore this year, most particularly to China, halted activities as Cyclone Lawrence was approaching the port. Ships were moved to safe areas as the cyclone hit the west Australia coast.
Lawrence had moved into Western Australia's Pilbara area, famous for its rich iron ore reserves, causing the world's biggest mining company BHP Billiton Ltd to delay shipments of the steel-making ingredient. The cyclone had last week also caused evacuations of oil and gas platforms.
Eleven iron ore mines owned by Rio Tinto Group and seven owned by BHP Billiton operate in the Pilbara area, which accounts for 73 percent of the country's natural gas exports and 62 percent of its mining production.