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Business View Australia - August 2015 115
ago with the first shipment of iron
ore from Port Hedland to China in
1973.
“The relationship between BHP
Billiton and China has evolved
beyond the two-way trade in raw
materials and industrial products
with the launch of the physical iron
ore transaction platforms in China
and Singapore in partnership with
steel mills, traders and producers,”
Henry said.
With China accounting for nearly
50 per cent of the world’s total
steel production, Wilson recognized
the nation’s contribution to the
development of the Pilbara in Western
Australia.
“Chinese demand growth has
supported a trebling of BHP Billiton’s
iron ore production over the last two
decades,” he said.
“We are grateful for our long-
term and mutually beneficial
par tnership with China. Our iron
ore has played a par t in the
country’s development, and in
turn China’s rapid growth has
transformed the Pilbara iron ore
mining industry to the benefit of
Australia. Over the past decade,
we have invested US$25 billion in
our Western Australian mines, rail
and por t infrastructure to deliver
the high-quality iron ore needed
by our steel -making customers in
China.”
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