Australian mining firm Portman sees iron ore shipments up 17%
Australian iron ore producer Portman Mining Ltd. has reported a record for first-half 2004 shipments of 2.72 million tons from its Koolyanobbing iron ore mine in Western Australia. The 17% increase in shipments from the corresponding period of the previous year, with especially strong second quarter shipments of 1.19 million tons up from 1.18 million tons the same time a year ago, highlights the strong demand from the important Chinese market. China currently accounts for 75% of Portman's sales.