In January this year, manganese ore shipments from Australia's Port Hedland totaled 202,195 metric tons, increasing 65.7 percent compared to December 2012, and up significantly compared to the 15,000 mt recorded in the same month of 2012, according to the monthly data released by the Port Hedland Port Authority.
According to the released information, manganese ore shipments made from Port Hedland to China amounted to 135,225 metric tons in January, increasing by 87.8 percent compared to the previous month. South Korea was the other export destination for manganese ore shipments from Port Hedland in January this year with shipments amounting to 66,970 metric tons.
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.