Iron Ore Shipments to China from Port Hedland Rise in November
Monthly iron ore shipments to China through Australia's Port Hedland rose 3 percent in November amid a sharp weakening in prices for the raw material used in steel production, port data released on Monday showed. Shipments to China, the world's biggest importer, reached 31.73 million tonnes last month versus 30.73 million in October, according to the Pilbara Ports Authority. Total shipments of iron ore through the port in November reached 37.33 million tonnes versus 36.52 million in October, the data showed. The record was set in September, when 39.4 million tonnes were shipped through the port. South Korea, was the second-biggest destination for ore from the port in November, importing 2.87 million tonnes, followed by Japan with 1.53 million tonnes.
Port Hedland, Australia, Tugboat Strike Update
BHP Billiton said on Wednesday it may seek government intervention to avert industrial action by tugboat workers at the Port Hedland iron ore port that threatens to disrupt hundreds of millions of dollars in exports. "It's highly likely we would do that," Jimmy Wilson, president of BHP's iron ore division, told reporters amid a long-running dispute between union workers and port services operator Teekay Shipping, which charges BHP a fee for operating tug services. BHP also called the union's demands on pay and working conditions "unreasonable". Australia's government has intervened in industrial disputes before. In 2011, the Fair Work Australia commission stepped in to end a long-running dispute between Qantas and three unions when the airline grounded its fleet…
Port Hedland Iron Ore Exports To China Rise 7 %
Iron ore exports to China from Australia's Port Hedland, which accounts for about a fifth of the globally traded market, rose by almost 7 percent in April, from March when they jumped 27 percent. Shipments to China amounted to 28.89 million tonnes in April, up from 27.04 million in March, data from the Port Hedland Port Authority showed. That was almost 50 percent higher than in April last year, a sign of still resilient demand from the Asian giant and of Australia's success in grabbing market share from other producers. Overall shipments of iron ore from Port Hedland edged up to a fresh record of 34.82 million tonnes, from 34.43 million in March. That compares to 26 million tonnes in April last year.
Possible tug strike at Port Hedland
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Australia's Iron Ore Miners Hang Tough as Prices Fall
If Australian miners are worried about the dramatic decline in iron ore prices, it doesn't show. At an annual gathering of many of the world's biggest and smallest iron ore producers here the mood is upbeat - as if the heftiest one-day fall in ore prices since the global financial crisis never happened. "Iron ore mining isn't tennis, it's a contact sport," said David Flanagan, chairman of Atlas Iron Ltd. "Sometimes it hurts a bit, like you copped it in the stomach. Iron ore for immediate delivery to China slumped 8 percent on Monday after data showed China's trade balance swung into deficit, amplifying concerns about a slowdown in the world's No. 2 economy and the biggest importer of the steel-making ingredient.
