SYDNEY, March 4 (Reuters) - Iron ore shipments to China through Australia's Port Hedland rose modestly in February compared with January, according to data released by the port authority, suggesting steady demand from the world's largest steel industry after signs of a weak start to 2012.

悉尼，3月4日（路透社）――根据港口官方发布的数据显示，与1月相比，经澳大利亚黑德兰港向中国输出的铁矿石数量在2月稍有上升，这表明尽管2012年初钢铁需求市场疲软，但是作为世界上最大的工业行业，钢铁行业依然需求稳定。

　　A cloudy outlook for steel demand curbed China's appetite for iron ore recently as mills opted to run down inventories instead of booking new orders, according to commodities traders.

近期钢铁需求市场前景暗淡，在一定程度上抑制了中国对于铁矿石的需求，商品交易商说钢厂并不订新货，而是选择减少库存。

　　But in recent weeks signs have emerged that steel mills were back in the market, albeit cautiously.

但是最近几个星期以来，有迹象表明钢铁厂又重新回到市场中来，虽然表现的十分谨慎小心。

　　Iron ore with 62 percent iron content was up 0.1 percent to $143.20 a tonne as of late last week, according to Steel Index, matching a level last seen on Feb. 8.

　　根据钢铁指数报道，上周末，铁含量为62%的铁矿石价格为143.20美元/吨，上升了0.1个百分点，与2月8日价格持平。

　　February shipments of iron ore to China via the port totalled 14.58 million tonnes, after falling 15 percent in January to 14.0 million from December, according to port figures.

　　根据港口数据显示，从2011年12月到2012年1月经黑德兰港运输到中国的铁矿石总量已经下降到了1400万吨，下降百分比为15%，但是2月份又回升到了1458万吨。

　　South Korea was a distant second, importing 2.65 million tonnes in February, the data showed.

　　韩国被远远落在第二位。数据显示，韩国2月份进口矿石总量为265万吨。

　　Total iron ore shipments from the port in February rose to 19.58 million tonnes versus 17.4 million tonnes in January, according to the data.

　　数据显示，2月份黑德兰港铁矿石输出总量达1958万吨，但是1月份仅为1740万吨。

　　BHP Billiton is the port's biggest user, followed by Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. Both companies ship the bulk of their ore to China.

　　必和必拓是该港口最大的用户，澳洲鳞金属集团（FMG）紧随其后。这两个公司的大部分铁矿石都被运输到了中国。