New data from the Pilbara Ports Authority showed iron ore exports for the key terminal totalled 36.6 million tonnes last month, an increase of 2.1Mt or 6% on the same time last year.

Total throughput was up 1.9Mt or 5% to 37.1Mt.

The figures came as the 62% spot price fell further to $US47.08 ($A61.36) a tonne, with the 58% price slipping to $40.57/t.

Port Hedland is the main export terminal for BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals Group and a host of smaller miners.

It’s also the main port for Atlas Iron, which went into a trading halt today after falling prices forced it to undertake a company-wide review.

Elsewhere in the Pilbara, the Port of Dampier delivered March monthly throughput of 13.1Mt, a decrease of 1.5Mt or 11% from the previous year.

Imports totalled 64,000t, an increase of 20,000t or 45% from the same month in 2014.