western australia's iron ore output for 2017-18 was 826 million tonnes, an increase of 8.5 percent on 2016–17. the bulk of western australian ore went to china, which imported 82% of 2017 production, followed by japan with 9% and south korea with 6%. the state has the world's largest reserves of iron ore with 29% of the world's iron ore, followed by brazil with 19%, russia with 15% and china with 12%.