Cyclone threat closes Australian port used by Chevron for LNG exports

SYDNEY, May 1 (Reuters) - An Australian port used by Chevron for liquefied natural gas exports has been forced to close by a cyclone off the country's west coast.

The Port of Ashburton was shut at 0400 GMT, the Pilbara Ports Authority said.

But Australia's largest iron ore export terminal, Port Hedland, and the port of Dampier, one of two used by Rio Tinto (Xetra: 855018 - news) to ship iron ore, remain open, the authority added.

Tropical Cyclone Quang is expected to hit the Australian west coast within a few hours, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said, bringing winds up to 100 kilometres per hour.

The cyclone is expected to weaken as it makes landfall, the weather bureau said.

(Reporting by Colin Packham)