Champion Iron Ltd. subsidiary Quebec Iron Ore Inc. is preparing the initial shipment of high-grade iron ore from its Bloom Lake mine in Quebec, according to a March 27 release.

The initial shipment to Asia will comprise up to 200,000 wet tonnes of 66% iron concentrate, part of the tonnage transported via rail to the Port of Sept-Îles over the past month.

"The first vessel is being loaded almost one month ahead of our original schedule with a high quality iron ore product fully in line with specifications and with our pilot plant test work," said Michael O'Keeffe, executive chairman and CEO of both companies.

Quebec Iron Ore restarted operations at Bloom Lake in February ahead of schedule and within budget.