AAP reported that Fortescue Metals Group says it has loaded 8.5 million tonnes of iron ore and achieved an annualized 100 million tonne production run rate in the last month of 2012.

The iron ore focused company said the December run rate was 23%higher than its previous monthly record set in May,2012.

It said"The increased throughput was a result of a number of milestones that occurred in December,including the ramp up of the second ore processing facility at Christmas Creek mine,first ore from the Solomon mine and the opening of the Fortescue Hamersley Rail Line."

Fortescue said it remained on track to reach its near term target rate of 115 million tonnes per annum this quarter as it looked to take annual production to 155 million tonnes by December 2013.