New export deals for Esperance

Southern Ports Authority has struck two major deals for iron ore and spodumene exports from our Port of Esperance.

The agreements include:

• a three-year contract to export iron ore with mining services giant Mineral Resources Limited (MRL), and
• a five-year contract (with an optional five-year extension) with MRL’s subsidiary, Process Minerals International, to export the growing commodity of spodumene from its hard rock lithium mines at Mt Marion.

The agreements are a boon for local employment and the regional economy – creating a dozen new port jobs and positioning our Port of Esperance for continued growth.

In a first for the region, the deals also open the Port’s iron ore infrastructure to junior exporters – paving the way for Juno Minerals to sign a non-binding MOU with Southern Ports to support potential future iron ore trade.

Iron ore is the Port of Esperance’s primary export commodity, with more than 7.6 million tonnes exported in FY23 and almost 37 million tonnes since 2018. Spodumene (lithium) exports through Esperance Port have increased by almost 350 per cent in the same period, reaching more than 900,000 tonnes over the past year.

“This is a welcome outcome for Southern Ports and the Esperance community,” said Southern Ports CEO Keith Wilks.

“Iron ore trade underpins regional prosperity in Esperance. These new deals will create more regional jobs and inject millions of dollars into the State’s economy,” he added.

“Not only will the deals extend MRL iron ore exports through to 2026, but also create the potential for new iron ore trade with junior exporters as the Port of Esperance transitions to future export commodities.

“With some of the richest deposits of critical minerals in the country, it’s also pleasing that we are able to position the region for trade growth in spodumene to support the global transition to clean energy.”