Australian producers shipped 51mn t of iron ore out of Port Hedland and Dampier Port — the country's two largest iron ore export hubs — in February, up by 12pc on the year despite days of weather-related disruptions, data from the country's port authority Pilbara Ports show.
Pilbara Ports had closed Port Hedland and Dampier from 6-8 February and 6-9 February, respectively.
But this did not cause exports to fall on the year as Cyclone Zelia had also hit the region in February 2025, halting export terminals in the region. Cyclone Zelia was the second category five weather system to hit Western Australia in the 2020s, after Cyclone Ilsa in April 2023.
Chinese steelmakers bought 34mn t of Port Hedland iron ore in February, up by 7.7pc on the year, but this could change in March. Exports from Western Australia to China fell on the year to 32.1mn dwt from 32.6mn dwt over 1-15 March, provisional shipping data show.
South Korean producers bought 3.4mn t of Port Hedland iron ore in February, up 16pc on the year. They increased their purchases of Australian iron ore by 27pc on the year in January.
Argus' iron ore fines 61pc Fe (ICX) cfr Qingdao price has declined since the start of 2026. It was last assessed at $109.35/t on 17 March, up from $105/t on 2 January.
| Pilbara Ports exports | mn t | ||
| Feb-26 | Feb-25 | y-o-y Change (%) | |
| Port Hedland | |||
| China | 34.1 | 31.6 | 7.8 |
| South Korea | 3.4 | 2.9 | 15.8 |
| Japan | 1 | 1.4 | -27.4 |
| Vietnam | 0.7 | 0.3 | 158.6 |
| Total* | 40 | 37.1 | 8 |
| Dampier Port | |||
| Total | 10.8 | 8.2 | 30.7 |
| Total includes other markets | |||
| Source- Pilbara Ports | |||
