BHP Billiton's Pilbara iron ore rail line in Western Australia resumed normal operations on Monday, following final repairs over the weekend, company spokeswoman Eleanor Colonico said Wednesday.
She declined to comment on the impact on iron ore output and when the first rail cargo was moved since the derailment.
On December 3, at approximately 0600 Western Australia time (2200 GMT, December 2), a number of cars had derailed on the rail line, 67 km south of Port Hedland, Ruban Yogarajah, a company spokesman said last Thursday.
The mines produce around 254 million mt/year of iron ore, which works out at around 700,000 mt/day shipped by rail.
The mining giant told the media that the derailment did not have an impact on loading or shipping activities at Port Hedland.
Iron ore sources said they did not anticipate an impact as there were ample offers. Platts 62%-Fe IODEX fell 20 cents to a new low of $39.30/dmt CFR North China Tuesday.
In the shipping market, BHP Billiton was last heard seeking a Capesize vessel on November 26 to move iron ore from Port Hedland to Qingdao for loading from December 10 onward.
Sources did not rule out that the miner might have sufficient ore stockpiled at the port.
Meanwhile, lack of iron ore cargoes from the west coast of Australia, coupled with an oversupply of vessels in the Pacific region, put downward pressure on Capesize rates for the Port Hedland-Qingdao route.
Platts assessed the freight rate for a Capesize vessel to move iron ore from Port Hedland to Qingdao at $4.10/wmt Tuesday, down 60 cents from December 1.