Strong results for Southern Ports

It has been another record-breaking year for Southern Ports with nine trade records broken across its three ports at Albany, Bunbury and Esperance.

Caustic soda and fertiliser were the two standout imports for the port authority, with spodumene exports breaking records for the fourth year in a row.

Southern Ports Chief Executive Officer Keith Wilks said that it had again been a strong year for trade.

“Southern Ports has looked to capitalise on new and emerging opportunities which has put us in a position to grow,” Mr Wilks said.

“As the market for spodumene spreads across the globe, we are proud that our ports at Bunbury and Esperance continue to be international leaders in facilitating trade within that market.”

A total of 2.47 million tonnes of spodumene left Southern Ports’ ports, comprising more than 1.43 million tonnes from the Port of Bunbury and 1.04 million tonnes from the Port of Esperance, topping the 1 million tonne threshold for the first time.

Substantial growth in fertiliser resulted in more than 539,000 tonnes imported across the three ports.

Ports at Albany and Esperance both also handled record-breaking single shipments of fertiliser in June when the Brave Eagle offloaded 31,000 tonnes in Albany before the African Inspiration commenced its discharge of almost 50,000 tonnes in Esperance.

“We were pleased to support agriculture sector demand and ensure there was enough fertiliser imported to assist with the growing season, including welcoming some of the biggest shipments of fertiliser we’ve seen.”

Other individual port records included caustic soda imports at the Port of Bunbury (1.6 million tonnes) and fuel imports at the Port of Esperance (409,360 tonnes), the latter of which was at its highest since 2008 (when it was formerly Esperance Port Authority).

“Records are a great chance to reflect on the past year, but success and growth cannot be measured only by bulk commodity tonnages going through Southern Ports gates,” Mr Wilks said.

“Our ports have demonstrated great capability to adapt to unique trade opportunities by supporting projects key to growing our regions, particularly the role we play in enabling a clean energy future.”

This was most evident by the close to 27,000 tonnes of break bulk cargo being imported through the Port of Bunbury, much of which was made up of components for the Albemarle’s Kemerton Lithium Plant expansion and Enel Group’s Flat Rock Wind Farm Project.

“The demand for different commodities is ever changing and as a port authority, it’s our role to be ready to support the demand for trade to market from our regions through our ports,” said Mr Wilks.

“There are always challenges to navigate, but we’re buoyed by these records which show how diverse our ports are.”

A combined 35 million tonnes of trade was facilitated by Southern Ports in 2023-24 across more than 16 commodities, and the nine trade records come on the back of the port authority topping 16 trade records the year prior.

Southern Ports was named national Port of Year* in 2023 following its significant growth and successes over the past five years.

* 2023 Daily Cargo News Australian Maritime and Shipping Industry Awards.

TRADE RECORDS

The following shows trade commodities with 2024 records only within Southern Ports.

*Record for individual ports in their time as part of Southern Ports

The African Inspiration delivered almost 50,000 tonnes of fertiliser to the Port of Esperance in late June.

The Brave Eagle delivered 32,000 tonnes of fertiliser to the Port of Albany in mid-June.

More than a million tonnes of spodumene was exported via the Port of Esperance in 2023-24.

A record amount of fertiliser was imported through Southern Ports.

Break bulk imports at the Port of Bunbury was a record for Southern Ports.