Port Hedland iron ore export volumes increased by over 17% during December 2021, with China and Japan accounting for much of the growth.
Sales to China increased by 15.4% month-on-month to 42,122,570 tonnes, with steel mills restocking for the new year.
The figure represented a 5.4% increase in tonnage compared to the same month in 2020.
Sales to Japan rose by 88.2% month-on-month, while shipments to South Korea recorded a 8.2% decline.
Exports of manganese ore via Port Hedland spiked by 198% to 219343 tonnes, while spodumene concentrate exports recommenced at 62,621 tonnes.
Copper concentrate exports declined by 26% to 24,172 tonnes, with Japan and the Philippines taking up the entirety of export volume.
