CHINA’S growing reliance on the Pilbara’s iron ore stocks was emphasised this week when BHP Billiton signed a 25-year, $11.6 billion ($US9 billion) deal with four of China’s biggest steel producers.

CHINA’S growing reliance on the Pilbara’s iron ore stocks was emphasised this week when BHP Billiton signed a 25-year, $11.6 billion ($US9 billion) deal with four of China’s biggest steel producers.