Iron ore exports via Australia’s Port Hedland down 16 percent in Feb from Jan

Fri, 25March 2011 17:42:44 (GMT+2)

In February this year, iron ore shipments from Australia's Port Hedland decreased 1.45 percent year on year and were down 16.19 percent month on month, totaling 12.85 million metric tons, according to Port Hedland Port Authority.

According to the released information, iron ore shipments made from Port Hedland to China amounted to 9.03 million metric tons in February, increasing by 3.54 percent year on year and down 9.37 percent as compared to January. In February, iron ore exports to China accounted for 70.3 percent of total iron ore exports from Port Hedland, compared to 67 percent in February 2010.

South Korea was the second largest export destination for iron ore shipments from Port Hedland in February, with shipments totaling 1.53 million metric tons - up 10.52 percent year on year and down by 5.67 percent over January. Japan imported 1.47 million metric tons of iron ore from Port Hedland in February, decreasing by 24 percent year on year and down 48 percent month on month.

Port Hedland handles production from mines owned by BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals Group and Atlas Iron in the iron ore-rich Pilbara region of Western Australia. (steelorbis)

China says finds high radiation on two Japanese travellers

Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:27am GMT

BEIJING, March 25 (Reuters) - China said on Friday that two Japanese travellers who arrived in east China by air were found to have radiation levels "seriously exceeding limits" when they entered the country on Wednesday.

"Tests showed that the two travelers seriously exceeded the limit," the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said, referring to radiation levels.

The agency's statement said the two travellers were given medical treatment and presented no radiation risk to others.

(Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Chris Buckley, Reuters)

Portuguese debt rating downgraded by Fitch

Fri,Mar25, 2011 11:24:53 English.news.cn

LISBON, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Fitch credit rating agency Thursday downgraded Portuguese debt to A- from A+, saying risks to the country's economy rose after the parliament failed to pass an austerity measure and the prime minister stepped down.

According to the rating agency, Portugal can no longer afford to maintain market access to refinance its sovereign debt this year. The Portuguese banks will face a peak in their refinancing needs of about 45 billion U.S. dollars in April.

Wednesday's decision at the parliament has led to a record high of the Portuguese yield. The interest rate of Portuguese 5-year bonds climbed to 8.339 percent in the secondary market Thursday, and 10-year bonds rose to 7.695 percent, reaching a record high since the country entered the eurozone.

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates resigned Wednesday night after the country's parliament voted against his new round of austerity measures aimed at reducing a high budget deficit to avoid a bailout.

The Portuguese government announced a series of adjustment measures during the past year to underline its commitment to reducing its budget deficit from 7.3 percent of gross domestic product in 2010 to 4.6 percent in 2011.

(Xinhua)

41 killed, 48 injured in Myanmar quake so far: state TV

Fri Mar25, 2011 13:20:15

YANGON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 41 people have so far been killed with 48 injured in a strong quake that struck Myanmar' s northeastern Shan state Thursday night, the state TV reported in a breaking news Friday.

A total of 244 houses, 14 monasteries and 9 government department buildings were destroyed, the report said.

Relief measures are being taken by the state with rescue team rushing to the scene, the report added.

A strong earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale jolted Loimwe, 56 kilometers southeast of Kengtung in northeastern Myanmar on Thursday night at 20:29:30 hours local time (13:69 GMT).

The quake's epicenter was about 10 kilometers underground and in the hills of Myanmar bordering Thailand and Laos.

The quake was followed by six after-shocks until Friday morning. Editor: Zhang Xiang, Xinhua