According to a statement released by Pilbara Ports, operations at the port were gradually restarted from Sunday as Tropical Cyclone Mitchell moved southward away from northwestern Australia.
Port Hedland plays a critical role in iron ore shipments for leading mining companies, including BHP Group and Fortescue Ltd., and alone accounts for a significant share of Australia’s total iron ore exports. As a result, the temporary closure of the port had been closely monitored due to its potential impact on the global iron ore supply chain.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology stated in a warning issued on Monday that Cyclone Mitchell was expected to track along the coast with wind gusts of up to 130 kilometers per hour before weakening after making landfall in the early hours of Tuesday. This relative improvement in weather conditions enabled the reopening of Port Hedland.
However, most other major ports in Western Australia remain closed as a precautionary measure. Operations had not yet resumed as of Monday morning at the ports of Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier, and Varanus Island, according to available information.
Western Australia is a key hub not only for iron ore production and exports but also for the country’s energy exports due to its liquefied natural gas facilities. The normalization of port activities in the region is being closely followed by both mining and energy markets, as continued disruptions could affect global supply dynamics if conditions do not stabilize.
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