SYDNEY, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto said the iron ore ports of Dampier and Cape Lambert on Australia's west coast had reopened after closing due to a cyclone and that shiploading was underway.

Category 1 Cyclone Peta -- the weakest on a scale of one-to-five -- forced Port Hedland, Cape Lambert and Dampier ports to shut on Tuesday, halting almost half of the world's iron ore trade.

Port Hedland reopened late Wednesday.

(Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Joseph Radford) Keywords: AUSTRALIA RIO TINTO/

(jim.regan@thomsonreuters.com)(+612 9373-1814)(Reuters Messaging: jim.regan.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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