The Port Hedland Port Authority exported 12.2 million metric tons of iron ore in February, a 10.5% decrease on the previous month, according to the Authority website Thursday.

The latest total compares with 13.63 million tons exported in January, according to Authority data.

The Authority didn't provide any further breakdown of the figures, which collate monthly iron ore shipment data from major port user BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP), along with new entrants Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FMG.AU) and Atlas Iron Ltd. (AGO.AU).

The sharp decline suggests that Port Hedland shipments are falling in line with slower demand from global steelmakers, due to the economic crisis.

Up to now, BHP has said that it doesn't plan to scale back its Western Australian mine production, with any tons surplus to contract requirements to be sold into the spot market.

At the peak of the China-driven boom, in June 2008, BHP alone shipped 12.26 million tons out of Port Hedland.

-By Stephen Bell, contributing to Dow Jones Newswires; 61-8-9244-4243; sgbell@bigpond.com
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