Pilbara Ports closed the financial year with success, achieving a fourth consecutive year of record-breaking throughput.
The Pilbara Ports Authority recorded 752.4 million tonnes of throughput in the 2023 financial year, a three per cent increase on the previous period. The throughput has an estimated value of $164 billion.
The result comes despite many of Pilbara Ports’ customers experiencing challenges to production, including a tight labour market and increasing raw material costs. Tropical Cyclone Ilsa also forced a three-day closure of Port Hedland on April 12.
Pilbara Ports is undertaking several new infrastructure projects to enable future growth and opportunity.
Pilbara Ports chief executive officer Samuel McSkimming said progressing infrastructure projects at the operational ports of Port Hedland, Dampier and Ashburton, would enable an increase and diversification of trade.
“To facilitate demand, we’re embarking on several projects, including building new multi-user wharfs at Port Hedland and Dampier.
“Lumsden Point in Port Hedland will enable the export of battery metals, an integral part of the global push to net-zero emissions. It will also facilitate the import of renewable energy infrastructure, including wind turbines and blades, supporting Western Australia’s sustainability goals.
“Our Dampier Cargo Wharf Projects will include the construction of a new wharf in support of the multibillion-dollar Perdaman Urea project, a link bridge and existing wharf upgrades, which will equip the Port of Dampier to handle more trade, reach international urea markets and diversify trade.”
More than 43 per cent of global iron ore trade passed through Pilbara Ports in the 2023 financial year, highlighting the significance of the region to the Australian economy, and to the global supply chain.
This financial year saw 17,500 safe vessel movements, equating to more than 48 movements each day across four operational ports.