In March this year, iron ore shipments from Australia's Port Hedland increased 20 percent year on year and were up 38 percent month on month, totaling 17.78 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 12.66 million metric tons in March, increasing by 36 percent year on year and up 40 percent as compared to February. In March, iron ore exports to China accounted for 71.2 percent of total iron ore exports from Port Hedland, compared to 63 percent in March 2010.
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 22 percent year on year and up by 56 percent over February. South Korea imported 2.25 million metric tons of iron ore from Port Hedland in March, decreasing by four percent year on year and up 47 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.