In January this year,
iron ore shipments from
Australia's Port Hedland increased 1.78 percent year on year and were down 11.5 percent month on month, totaling 15.33 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 9.97 million metric tons in January, decreasing by 9.74 percent year on year and down 21.87 percent as compared to December. In January,
iron ore exports to
China accounted for 65 percent of total
iron ore exports from Port Hedland, compared to 73 percent in January 2010 and down from 74 percent in December 2010.
Japan was the second largest export destination for
iron ore shipments from Port Hedland in January, with shipments totaling 2.82 million metric tons - up 69 percent year on year and up by 62 percent over December. South Korea imported 1.62 million metric tons of
iron ore from Port Hedland in January, increasing by 21.63 percent year on year and down 7.05 percent month on month.
Port Hedland handles production from mines owned by BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals Group and Atlas Iron in the
iron ore-rich Pilbara region of Western
Australia.