Australia saw a 5.6% y/y increase in iron ore exports

In May 2026, Australia increased its exports of iron ore and pellets by 5.6% year-on-year – to 81 million tonnes. This is according to BigMint data on vessel cargoes.

Compared to April, the figure rose by 6%.

China remained the main importer of Australian iron ore – shipments to this country totalled 67.4 million tonnes over the period. Next came Japan (5.4 million tonnes) and South Korea (4.7 million tonnes).

Rio Tinto was the leading exporter, shipping 28.2 million tonnes in May, followed by BHP (24.7 million tonnes) and FMG (20.5 million tonnes).

The growth in iron ore exports from Australia was mainly driven by improved vessel loading activity at ports in the Pilbara region and increased flows from major mining companies, resulting from more coordinated operations between enterprises and rail transport throughout the month

At the same time, stable demand from China and active restocking at ports ensured the continuity of Australian cargo shipments. However, sales growth remained moderate due to the availability of iron ore on the global market and cautious sentiment in the steel sector.

As reported by GMK Center, global iron ore supply in 2026 could reach a record 2.68 billion tonnes. Africa will be the main driver of growth thanks to the phased launch of the Simandou project. In addition, there is further expansion of iron ore mining capacity in Australia and Brazil. Australia’s share could amount to 985.9 million tonnes.