The port delivered a 12% year-on-year increase in throughput for the month at 30 million tonnes, despite the influence of Tropical Cyclone Christine, which spurred a temporary closure of the facility in the final week of 2013.

This performance beats the previous monthly throughput record set in September 2013 by 300,000 tonnes.

Exports totalled a record 29.9Mt, also an increase of 12% from the same month in 2012.

Financial year-to-date figures show total throughput at 173.5Mt compared to 135.9Mt in 2012, an increase of 27%.

This comes after a record financial 2013 at the port which achieved 288.4Mt of shipments, up 17% from the previous year.

Pilbara mining companies began bring operations back on line last week, with Port Hedland and Karratha having been given the all-clear after the storm passed.

BHP Billiton reported only minor damage and no injuries.

Initial reports from the Port Authority likewise indicated only minor effects to infrastructure, with one small craft sunk and located off its mooring.

Vessel movements were not affected.

BHP, Fortescue Metals Group, Atlas Iron and BC Iron are among the iron ore producers that export through Port Hedland.