In March this year, iron ore shipments from Australia's Port Hedland increased by 13.56 percent year on year and were up 13.7 percent month on month, totaling 14.84 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 9.33 million metric tons in March, increasing by 2.66 percent year on year and up 6.98 percent compared to February 2010. South Korea was the second largest export destination for iron ore shipments from Port Hedland, with shipments totaling 2.34 million metric tons - up 81.3 percent year on year and up 68.69 percent over February. South Korea was followed by Japan, with iron ore exports at 1.88 millon metric tons, down 12.56 percent year on year and down 3.18 percent month on month.
Port Hedland handles production from mines owned by BHP Billiton and Fortescue Metals Group in the iron ore-rich Pilbara region of Western Australia.