In January this year, iron ore shipments from Australia's Port Hedland increased by 13.5 percent year on year and were down by 18.5 percent month on month, totaling 17.4 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 January, decreasing by 15.8 percent compared to December 2011 and up 40.45 percent year on year. South Korea was the second largest export destination for iron ore shipments from Port Hedland in January, with shipments totaling 1.6 million metric tons, up 1.2 percent year on year and down 8.6 percent compared to December. Meanwhile, iron ore shipments made from Port Hedland to Japan amounted to 1.3 million metric tons in January, decreasing by 39 percent compared to December 2011 and down 53.7 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.