Fortescue Q2 iron ore output up 43pct on strong Asia demand

SYDNEY, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Fortescue Metals Group on Thursday said it saw a rise in demand for its iron ore in the December quarter after posting a 43 percent rise in quarterly iron ore output.

Total shipments increased to 28 million tonnes in the quarter ended Dec 31 versus 19.6 million a year ago and 25.9 million the previous quarter, Fortescue said.

"As Chinese and other North Asian steel production continued to grow, iron ore demand strengthened through the December 2013 quarter," it said.

The world's fourth-biggest iron ore producer also revised fiscal 2014 shipments to the lower end of guidance at 127 milion tonnes, citing weather-related interruptions to operations this month.

(Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Eric Meijer)

((jim.regan@thomsonreuters.com)(+612 9373-1814)(Reuters Messaging: jim.regan.reuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: FORTESCUE PRODUCTION/