Port Hedland iron ore shipments down 16 pct in February

Iron ore shipments from Australia's Port Hedland fell 16 percent in February to 12.85 million tonnes from 15.33 million tonnes in January, according to port authority figures released on Thursday, Reuters reports.
Shipments are also sharply down from 17.33 million tonnes in December.
Shipments to China fell to 9.03 million tonnes in February from 9.97 million tonnes in January, the data showed.
BHP Billiton Ltd/Plc is the port's biggest user followed by Fortescue Metals Group Ltd .