AGO Atlas Iron Fpo (delisted)

   By Rhiannon Hoyle 
 

SYDNEY--Iron-ore exports from Australia's Port Hedland rose 5% in December despite a tropical cyclone that temporarily halted shipments late in the month.

A total of 29.5 million metric tons of the bulk steelmaking commodity were shipped last month from the port, the world's largest iron-ore export facility, up from 28.1 million the previous month, according to data from the port authority.

Exports to China, the world's largest buyer of the raw material, rose to 24.2 million tons, from 22.3 million in November, it said.

Shipments from the port were disrupted late in December as Cyclone Christine battered the Western Australian coast with destructive winds and heavy rainfall.

Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com