In May this year, iron ore shipments from Australia's Port Hedland increased by 12.16 percent year on year and were up 2.95 percent month on month, totaling 15.02 million metric tons, according to Port Hedland Port Authority.
According to the released information, iron ore shipments made from Port Hedland to China amounted to 9.98 million metric tons in May, regressing by 5.77 percent year on year and down 8.48 percent compared to April 2010. Japan was the second largest export destination for iron ore shipments from Port Hedland, with shipments totaling 2.41 million metric tons - up 100.34 percent year on year and up 51.04 percent over April. Japan was followed by South Korea, with iron ore exports at 1.7 millon metric tons, up 30.54 percent year on year and up 22.61 percent month on month.
Port Hedland handles production from mines owned by BHP Billiton and Fortescue Metals Group in the iron ore-rich Pilbara region of Western Australia.