In February this year,
iron ore shipments from
Australia's Port Hedland decreased 1.45 percent year on year and were down 16.19 percent month on month, totaling 12.85 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 9.03 million metric tons in February, increasing by 3.54 percent year on year and down 9.37 percent as compared to January. In February,
iron ore exports to
China accounted for 70.3 percent of total
iron ore exports from Port Hedland, compared to 67 percent in February 2010.
South Korea was the second largest export destination for
iron ore shipments from Port Hedland in February, with shipments totaling 1.53 million metric tons - up 10.52 percent year on year and down by 5.67 percent over January.
Japan imported 1.47 million metric tons of
iron ore from Port Hedland in February, decreasing by 24 percent year on year and down 48 percent month on month.
Port Hedland handles production from mines owned by BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals Group and Atlas Iron in the
iron ore-rich Pilbara region of Western
Australia.