Australian producers shipped 60mn t of iron ore out of Port Hedland and Dampier Port — the country's largest export hubs — in November, down by 3.2pc on the year, largely because shipments to South Korea nearly halved.
- South Korean steelmakers bought 2.6mn t of Port Hedland iron ore in November, down by 49pc on the year, the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) said today. South Korea's fell by 5.8pc on the year to 5.1mn t in October.
- Western Australian producers shipped 42mn t of iron ore to China in November, up by 5.5pc on the year. Chinese steelmakers may increase their purchases of Australian ore again in December. Exports from rose by 17pc on the year over the first week of December, provisional shipping data show.
- Japanese producers bought 1.6mn t of Port Hedland iron ore in November, up by 12pc on the year. But Australian ore exports to Japan may decline in December. Japan's crude steel on the year in October-December, according to its trade and industry ministry.
- Iron ore exports out of Port Hedland could rise by up to 4mn t/yr in September-December 2026. PPA gave Australian mining services firm Macro Metals permission to use the port to support its Extension Iron Ore Project on 12 December, Macro Metals told investors at the time.
- Argus' iron ore fines 61pc Fe (ICX) cfr Qingdao price has declined since the start of November. It was last assessed at $101.85/t on 16 December, down from $102.80/t on 3 November.
| Western Australian iron ore exports | mn t | ||||
| Nov '25 | Nov '24 | y-o-y ± % | Oct '25 | m-o-m ± % | |
| Port Hedland | |||||
| China | 42 | 40 | 5.5 | 42 | 0.4 |
| Japan | 1.6 | 1.4 | 12 | 2.0 | -19 |
| South Korea | 2.6 | 5.1 | -49 | 3.6 | -28 |
| Vietnam | 0.3 | 0.5 | -28 | 0.3 | 13 |
| Total* | 48 | 49 | -2.1 | 49 | -2.6 |
| Dampier | |||||
| Total | 12 | 13 | -7.5 | 15 | -19 |
| Pilbara | |||||
| Total | 60 | 62 | -3.2 | 64 | -6.5 |
| *Total includes other countries | |||||
| — Pilbara Ports Authority | |||||
