EXPORTS FROM PORT HEDLAND ROSE TO A RECORD AND REACHED 39.53 MILLION TONNES

Australia's iron ore export machine is running at full throttle even as China slows. Exports from Port Hedland rose to a record in March, according to the world's biggest bulk-export terminal, which handles cargoes for miners including BHP Billiton and new entrant Roy Hill Holdings.

Total shipments increased to 39.53 million metric tons last month from 36.63 million in February and 36.61 million a year earlier, according to data from the port authority on Tuesday. The figure eclipses the previous high of 39.4 million tons set in September. Exports to China gained to 32.6 million tons compared with 29.14 million tons in February and 31.2 million in the same month in 2015.