Port Hedland increases lithium exports to China in June

Port Hedland in Western Australia (WA) exported 61,336t of lithium concentrate in two shipments to China in June, the highest level for four months.

June's exports were up from 47,029t in May, 39,801t in April and 44,221t in March, but below the February total of 73,496t.

The port exported 265,883t of lithium concentrate to China in the first half of 2019.

Lithium exports in June came from Pilbara Minerals and Altura Mining's stage one operations in the Pilgangoora region of WA. Both projects are building up to nameplate production and are planning second stages that will significantly increase output.

Lithium exports from Port Hedland have fallen in 2019, because Mineral Resources' Wodgina mine is no longer exporting direct shipping lithium ore to China. The mine is stockpiling ore for its own lithium concentrate production, which will start soon.

Manganese ore exports to China totalled 115,296t in June, compared to 115,066t in May and 110,000t in April, data from the Pilbara Port Authority show. Copper concentrate exports to China fell to 32,978t in June from 56,010t in May and 35,764t in April.