FORTESCUE Metals Group has reported shipments of 46.4m tonnes of iron ore for the December quarter.

This was 9% higher than the same quarter the year before and took results for the 2020 half year to 88.6m tonnes.

Chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said the Fortescue team had achieved “outstanding results”.

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“Excellent operational performance across all mines, rail and port was maintained during the quarter to deliver shipments of 46.4m tonnes,” Ms Gaines said.

“Based on Fortescue’s strong performance in the first half, we expect shipments to be at the upper end of our guided range of 170m to 175m.”

Ms Gaines also spoke of a strong performance in the area of safety.

Founded by Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest, Fortescue owns and operates an infrastructure and supply chain spanning two mine hubs, with a third under development, in the Pilbara, the five berth Herb Elliott Port in Port Hedland and the Judith Street Harbour.

It also has its own tug fleet and the eight ore carrier ships.