The Port Hedland Port Authority exported 12.2 million tonnes of iron ore in February, a 10.5 per cent decrease on the previous month. The latest total, reported on the authority’s website, compares with 13.63 million tonnes exported in January. The authority didn’t provide any further breakdown of the figures, which collate monthly iron ore shipment data from major port user BHP Billiton, along with new entrants Fortescue Metals Group and Atlas Iron.
The sharp decline suggests that Port Hedland shipments are falling in line with slower demand from global steelmakers, due to the economic crisis.
BHP has previously said it doesn’t plan to scale back its Western Australian mine production, with any tonnes surplus to contract requirements to be sold into the spot market.
At the peak of the China-driven boom, in June 2008, BHP alone shipped 12.26 million tonnes out of Port Hedland.
The sharp decline suggests that Port Hedland shipments are falling in line with slower demand from global steelmakers, due to the economic crisis.
BHP has previously said it doesn’t plan to scale back its Western Australian mine production, with any tonnes surplus to contract requirements to be sold into the spot market.
At the peak of the China-driven boom, in June 2008, BHP alone shipped 12.26 million tonnes out of Port Hedland.