Extreme weather superimposed production declines Australian iron ore exports fall for the first time in nearly 20 years

Published: Jul 1, 2019 10:13
Australia's iron ore exports are likely to fall for the first time in nearly 20 years this year due to bad weather and falling production, adding to global concerns about iron ore supplies, according to a research report released Monday by (Department of Industry, Innovation and Science), Australia's division of industrial innovation and science. Superimposed by rising demand for iron ore from China's steel capacity expansion, iron ore prices have been pushed to a five-year high of $100 a tonne.

SMM7, 1st March: Australia's iron ore exports may fall for the first time in nearly 20 years due to bad weather and falling production this year, adding to global concerns about iron ore supply, according to a research report released Monday by (Department of Industry, Innovation and Science), the Australian Department of Industrial Innovation and Science, which said that due to bad weather and falling production and other reasons this year, Australia's iron ore exports may fall for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Superimposed by rising demand for iron ore from China's steel capacity expansion, iron ore prices have been pushed to a five-year high of $100 a tonne. It also brought Australia's iron ore exports to $55 billion in fiscal year 2020.

Australia exported 835 million tons of iron ore last year.

At the end of March this year, located in Australia, the world's largest iron ore export port-Port Hedland was affected by tropical cyclone Veronica, the normal operation of the port has been affected to some extent.

Since then, Rio Tinto (Rio Tinto Group) and Billiton (BHP Group) have cut their production targets for this year. Rio Tinto cut its iron ore production target for this year again in June because of operational problems in Western Australia.

So the department report expects the global supply of iron ore to be tight and the upward trend in prices to continue until at least 2021.

Scan QR code and apply to join SMM metal exchange group, please indicate company + name + main business

 

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn
For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn
Related News
Australia Reviews Anti-Dumping Duties on Galvanized Steel from India, Malaysia, Vietnam Amid Zinc Concerns
Sep 11, 2026 18:30
Australia Reviews Anti-Dumping Duties on Galvanized Steel from India, Malaysia, Vietnam Amid Zinc Concerns
Read More
Australia Reviews Anti-Dumping Duties on Galvanized Steel from India, Malaysia, Vietnam Amid Zinc Concerns
Australia Reviews Anti-Dumping Duties on Galvanized Steel from India, Malaysia, Vietnam Amid Zinc Concerns
On September 9, 2026, Australia initiated its second sunset review of anti-dumping measures on galvanized steel sheet from India, Malaysia and Vietnam, and separately launched a sunset review of countervailing measures on imports from India. The review covers July 2025-June 2026, with the final report expected by February 11, 2027. As galvanized steel is the largest end-use sector for zinc, the measures directly affect export costs and competitiveness, potentially impacting Australia’s domestic zinc demand and supply chain. Maintaining the duties would provide some protection for domestic steel and coating capacity, while termination could increase low-priced imports and affect regional zinc consumption. The final outcome remains subject to the authorities’ determination.
Sep 11, 2026 18:30
JCC Hongyuan Copper's $200M Expansion Project Aims to Boost Capacity to 550,000 mt by 2027
Sep 7, 2026 15:43
JCC Hongyuan Copper's $200M Expansion Project Aims to Boost Capacity to 550,000 mt by 2027
Read More
JCC Hongyuan Copper's $200M Expansion Project Aims to Boost Capacity to 550,000 mt by 2027
JCC Hongyuan Copper's $200M Expansion Project Aims to Boost Capacity to 550,000 mt by 2027
The 300,000 mt/year copper cathode expansion project of JCC Hongyuan Copper, a subsidiary of Jiangxi Copper Corporation, entered the pre-approval public notice stage of its environmental impact assessment on September 4, with a total investment of approximately 1.416 billion yuan. The project is planned to start construction in September 2026 and be completed in December 2027. Upon completion, JCC Hongyuan's total capacity will jump from 250,000 mt to 550,000 mt.
Sep 7, 2026 15:43
Japanese Yen Increases USD/JPY Drops Below 159 Amid Intervention Speculation
Sep 3, 2026 19:00
Japanese Yen Increases USD/JPY Drops Below 159 Amid Intervention Speculation
Read More
Japanese Yen Increases USD/JPY Drops Below 159 Amid Intervention Speculation
Japanese Yen Increases USD/JPY Drops Below 159 Amid Intervention Speculation
[SMM Precious Metal Express] The Japanese yen spiked sharply during Wednesday's trading, with USD/JPY falling below 159 and closing down 0.92% at 158.69, sparking speculation of Japanese currency intervention. The dollar index also dropped sharply, with a weaker dollar environment providing support for precious metals.
Sep 3, 2026 19:00
Extreme weather superimposed production declines Australian iron ore exports fall for the first time in nearly 20 years - Shanghai Metals Market (SMM)