Fortescue has kept its annual iron ore shipment target steady following a record-breaking performance in the first half, fuelled by strong output from its Pilbara operations and progress at the problematic Iron Bridge project.

The Andrew Forrest-chaired group reported shipments of 49.4 million tonnes of iron ore in the December quarter, bringing total exports for the first six months of the financial year to a record 97.1 million tonnes.