Australian producers shipped 64 million tons of iron ore from Port Hedland and Port Dampier, the two largest iron ore ports in Western Australia (Washington), in October, up 11% from last year, due to increased shipments to most major markets.
- Chinese steelmakers bought 42 million tons of iron ore from Port Hedland in October, up 7.3% from a year earlier, after two consecutive monthly declines in August and September. The total volume of iron ore imports to China in October increased by 7.2% compared to the same period last year, according to Chinese customs data.
- Producers have also shipped 2.8 million tons of iron ore from small ports in the Pilbara, Washington region, the Pilbara Ports Authority said today.
- Japanese producers purchased 2 million tons of Port Hedland iron ore in October, which is 46% more than a year earlier. This trend may not have continued in November. Exports from Western Australia to Japan and South Korea combined declined between November 1 and November 17, according to preliminary shipping data.
- Vietnamese producers purchased 330,994 tons of Port Hedland iron ore in October, up from 348,458 tons a year earlier. Steel exports from Vietnam have been declining since the beginning of 2025. Manufacturers in this country exported 7.9 million tons of steel products in January-September, which is 21% less than last year.
- Australian producer BHP's iron ore production in Washington State fell 2.1% in January-September. The year ended in July-September, while the production volume of the British-Australian producer Rio Tinto did not change compared to the same period last year.
- Argus's 61pc Fe (ICX) cfr fine iron ore price in Qingdao was last estimated at $102.30 per tonne on November 19, slightly higher than $101.25 per tonne in early October. It was last priced at $2.60 per tonne below the Argus price of 62pc Fe (ICX) cfr fine iron ore in Qingdao.
