Australia is currently the major supplier of imported iron ore to China, with a 43 percent share of the market in 2002. Western Australia's attractiveness as a source of iron ore for China reflects a range of factors: Competitive transport costs due to Australia's proximity to China compared to other suppliers. Western Australian producers have also established long-term, consistent and reliable relationships with customers beginning in 1973 with the first imports from Western Australia provided by Hamersley Iron. This year we see the reaching of the 30~(th) year of this relationship.
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