Australia Iron Ore Port Tracking Cyclone Threat

   By Robb M. Stewart 
 

MELBOURNE--A key port for exporting iron ore from Australia's northwestern Pilbara region ordered ships to abandon anchorage points Tuesday but continued to load vessels in the inner harbor as a tropical low threatened to develop into a cyclone.

Increasing swells, storms and showers have been forecast for the area, the Port Hedland Port Authority said in a statement.

The system is moving southwest along the coast of the iron ore-rich region. The Bureau of Meteorology said the tropical low could reach cyclone intensity Wednesday, with gale winds of 100 kilometers an hour hitting between Pardoo and Dampier.

"We will continue to keep a close eye on the development of this system and watch for any signs of recurvature towards Port Hedland," the port authority said.

Port Hedland handled 25.9 million metric tons of iron ore in December. The port is used by BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP), Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FMG.AU) and Atlas Iron Ltd. (AGO.AU).

Earlier this month, Cyclone Narelle, the first cyclone of a season that usually runs through April, briefly shut the Dampier and Cape Lambert ports used by Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) to export its iron ore from the Pilbara. Rio Tinto is the country's largest iron ore producer, followed by BHP and Fortescue.

Write to Robb M. Stewart at [e-mail]

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