Port Hedland July Iron Ore Shipments 13.94 Million Tons
August 12 2009 - 7:56AM
Dow Jones News
The Port Hedland Port Authority shipped 13.94 million metric
tons of iron ore in July, according to an update on the authority's
Web site Wednesday.
The exports were up 7.1% from the June total of 13.02 million
tons and up 23% from July 2008 exports of 11.36 million tons, the
authority said.
The authority didn't provide individual breakdowns for major
port users BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.
(FMG.AU).
China remained the key iron ore customer, accounting for 11.1
million tons, up 18.5% from June.
China, the world's largest iron ore consumer, increased its
share of sea-borne imports in the first half of the year after many
domestic mines shut down due to a slump in prices and plummeting
freight rates.
Port Hedland is BHP's key Australian iron ore port, but the
global miner is seeking a joint venture with competitor Rio Tinto
(RTP), which exports iron ore from Dampier and Cape Lambert.
-By Stephen Bell, contributing to Dow Jones Newswires;
61-8-9244-4243; sgbell@bigpond.com