In March this year, iron ore shipments from Australia's Port Hedland decreased by 4.7 percent month on month and were up by five percent year on year, totaling 18.7 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 14 million metric tons in March, decreasing by 3.75 percent compared to February and up 10.9 percent year on year. Japan was the second largest export destination for iron ore shipments from Port Hedland in March, with shipments totaling 2.3 million metric tons, up slightly by 0.2 percent year on year and up 50 percent compared to the previous month. Meanwhile, iron ore shipments made from Port Hedland to South Korea amounted to 1.63 million metric tons in March, decreasing by 38.3 percent compared to February this year and down 27.5 percent year on year.
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.