Port Hedland, the largest iron ore port in Australia, has announced that it has shipped a record 1,270,721 metric tons in a single day, on Saturday, June 7, 2014, adding to its record of exporting 34.43 million metric tons in a single month achieved in March this year. The port broke its previous daily record by exporting 160,000 metric tons more iron ore than it did in April this year. The figure was achieved by seven capsize bulk carrier ships, which was also the first time that so many capsize vessels sailed on a single tide.
Port Hedland handles production from mines owned by BHP Billiton, Atlas Iron and Fortescue Metals Group in the iron ore-rich Pilbara region of Western Australia.