In December 2011, iron ore shipments from Australia's Port Hedland increased by 23.3 percent year on year and were up by four percent month on month, totaling 21.4 million metric tons, according to Port Hedland Port Authority. Meanwhile in the whole year of 2011 iron ore shipments made from the port amounted to 217.3 million mt, increasing 18.4 percent compared to 2010.
According to the released information, iron ore shipments made from Port Hedland to China amounted to 16.63 million metric tons in December, increasing by 13.5 percent compared to November 2011 and up 30.35 percent year on year. Japan was the second largest export destination for iron ore shipments from Port Hedland in December, with shipments totaling 2.1 million metric tons - up 28.7 percent year on year but falling 9.5 percent from November. Japan was followed by South Korea, with iron ore exports at 1.8 million metric tons, up 2.9 percent year on year and down 10 percent month on month.
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.