Western Australia’s iron ore export industry started in the mid 1960s with the first major shipments to Japan, expanded to South Korea and Taiwan in the early 1980s and, in more recent years, China.
Major foreign investments in WA’s iron ore projects include some of the biggest steelmakers and trading houses in the world. They include:
• BHP Billiton: 15 per cent Mitsui/Itochu of Japan.
• Rio Tinto owned Robe River Iron Ore Associates: 47 per cent Mitsui, Nippon Steel, Sumitomo of Japan.
• Channar, Pilbara: 40 per cent Sinosteel of China.
• C Deposit MAC, Pilbara: 20 percent POSCO of South Korea.
• Paraburdoo, Pilbara: 46 percent Shanghai Baosteel of China.
• Jimblebar, Pilbara: 40 percent Magang, Wugang, Tanggang, Shagang of China.
• BHP Billiton’s Yandicoogina, Pilbara: 20 percent JFE of Japan.
• HIsmelt pilot steel plant, Kwinana: 25 per cent Nucor (US), 10 per cent Mitsubishi (Japan), 5 per cent Shougang (China).
• Koolan Island, northern WA: 5 per cent CITIC (China), 6.5 per cent Societe Generale (France), 4.8 per cent Sinom China.
• Koolanooka/Weld Range, Mid West: 50 per cent Sinosteel of China.
• Mt Gibson (Asia Iron): 50 per cent Shougang of China.
