No Port Hedland lithium exports in January

Western Australia's Port Hedland exported no lithium ore or concentrate in January — the first time since March 2017 this has happened — according to the Pilbara Ports Authority.

Port Hedland exported 2.53mn t of lithium concentrate and direct shipping ore to China last year, including 89,288t in December. The lowest monthly amount was 16,500t, the highest was 449,826t, and the average was 211,237t.

The lack of January exports reflects the absence of deliveries from the Wodgina, which is stockpiling direct shipping ore for lithium concentrate production. And new producers Pilbara Minerals and Altura Mining are likely to resume concentrate shipments this month.

Port Hedland lithium concentrate exports should pick up once the first of three 250,000 t/yr concentrate trains at Wodgina starts producing in this quarter. Lithium exports are also handled by Western Australia's ports of Esperance and Kwinana.

Port Hedland started direct shipping ore lithium exports in April 2017 ahead of Western Australia cementing its position as the world's hard rock lithium capital.

Meanwhile, copper concentrate exports from Port Hedland totalled 125,604t in January, up from 71,046t in December. Manganese ore exports totalled 112,276t, down from 139,064t.