In May 2025, Australia’s Port Hedland recorded a notable increase in iron ore exports, shipping 53.1 million metric tons—up 13.7% from April and 2.2% higher than May 2024. The data, released by the Port Hedland Port Authority, indicates continued strong demand from key Asian markets, particularly China.

China remained the dominant buyer, receiving 45.43 million metric tons of iron ore. This represents a 10.5% month-on-month increase and a slight 0.2% rise compared to the same month last year. The uptick suggests sustained demand for raw materials to fuel the country’s steel production and industrial output. South Korea followed with 4.3 million metric tons, while Japan imported 1.59 million metric tons during the same period.

In contrast, iron ore exports from Port Dampier saw a modest decline, totaling 12.41 million metric tons. This marks a 0.4% drop from April and a 1.7% decrease year-on-year, highlighting a slight pullback in shipping volumes from that region.

Overall, the figures underscore Port Hedland’s critical role in global iron ore supply chains and reaffirm China’s position as the principal driver of demand in the sector.