Australia's iron ore export hub, the world's largest, braced on Friday for a powerful tropical cyclone, forcing the closure of all of the major commodity ports in the country's northwest as residents rushed to stock up on essential supplies.

Singapore iron ore futures prices rose on Friday and were on track for a weekly gain, supported by heightened concerns over cyclone-led supply disruptions in major producer Australia. The benchmark March iron ore SZZFH5 on the Singapore Exchange was up 0.

SYDNEY: Severe Cyclone Zelia has made landfall near Australia’s iron ore export hub, bringing heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts, with the system threatening big mines and crucial rail links as it tracks inland.

Tropical Cyclone Zelia made landfall on Australia's west coast on Friday, the weather bureau said, lashing the world's largest iron ore hub with heavy rain and wind gusts up to 290 kph (180 mph). The eye of the storm crossed the coast east of Port Hedland just after 12 p.