In October this year, manganese ore shipments from Australia's Port Hedland increased 52.5 percent month on month and were up by just 0.06 percent year on year, totaling 161,819 metric tons, according to Port Hedland Port Authority.
According to the released information, manganese ore shipments made from Port Hedland to China amounted to 105,659 metric tons in October, increasing by 3.3 percent year on year and up 123.6 percent as compared to September. In October this year, manganese ore exports to China accounted for 65.3 percent of total manganese ore exports from Port Hedland, compared to 63.3 percent in October 2010.
India was the second biggest export destination for manganese ore shipments from Port Hedland in October, with shipments totaling 56,160 metric tons. According to the port authority, no manganese ore shipments from Port Hedland to India had been recorded in September this year, nor in October last year.
Port Hedland handles production from mines owned by BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals Group and Atlas Manganese in the manganese ore-rich Pilbara region of Western Australia.