Iron ore exports from Australia’s Port Hedland surged to a record in March, according to a monthly summary from the world’s biggest bulk-export terminal which handles cargoes from miners including BHP Billiton Ltd. and entrant Roy Hill Holdings Pty. Total shipments increased to 39.53 million metric tons last month from 36.63 million in February and 36.61 million a year earlier, according to data from the port authority on Tuesday. The figure eclipses the previous high of 39.4 million tons set in September. Exports to China gained to 32.6 million tons compared with 29.14 million tons in February and 31.2 million in the same month in 2015. While iron ore has staged a surprise rally in 2016 as Chinese policy makers signaled their willingness to bolster growth in the largest user, prices have sagged in the past two weeks as holdings at ports in China expanded to the highest level in almost a year. Port Hedland is a maritime gateway to low-cost supply from the Pilbara, the world’s largest production center. Billionaire Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill venture has been ramping up operations this year, and last month dispatched its inaugural cargo to China. Ore with 62 percent content in Qingdao was at $54.80 a dry ton on Monday after losing 2.8 percent last week and 2 percent the week before, according to Metal Bulletin Ltd. The price surged 23 percent in the first quarter as some supplies from Port Hedland were disrupted in January, mills in China ramped up output ahead of the peak-construction season and the country’s leaders pledged to back growth.