zoomImage Courtesy: Pilbara Ports

Australian port of Port Hedland has delivered a total throughput of 38.1 Mt in December 2015, a slight increase of 1% compared to 37.8 Mt handled in the same period in 2014.

December iron ore exports increased to 37.5 Mt from 37.3 Mt handled only a month before, in November. The increase reflected the start of Roy Hill mine project’s overseas sales, joining miners shipping greater volumes into a global market. Set by billionaire Gina Rinehart, the project, which shipped its inaugural cargoes through Port Hedland last month, is expected to boost the port’s exports in 2016.

Exports to China rose to 32.17 million tons from 31.73 million in the previous month and 30.63 million a year earlier.

The end of 2015 proved to be a slow month for Port Hedland’s imports, as the port handled a total of 159,000 tonnes. The imports dropped by 34,000 tonnes or 18% from the previous year when the port imported 193,000 tonnes.

Overall, the Pilbara Ports has delivered a total monthly throughput of 53.9 million tonnes (Mt) for the month of December 2015, representing an increase of 2% compared to 52.8 Mt handled in the same month in 2014.

The port of Dampier noted an increase of 5% in its total monthly throughput, reaching 15.8 Mt, compared to 15 Mt in December 2014.

Imports totalled 85,000 tonnes, in line with the previous year’s figures.