Pilbara Ports Authority has continued its growth surge with another record-breaking export performance, the sixth consecutive year of growth for Australia’s largest bulk commodities hub, comprising the ports of Port Hedland, Dampier, Ashburton, and Varanus Island.
Due to its proximity to high-grade resource deposits, deep- water access, and efficient rail connections, Pilbara Ports is the world’s largest bulk export port by volume.
The authority handled 775.7 million tonnes of cargo and generated about $153 billion in export value in the 2025 financial year.
Port performance across key operational metrics was maintained to a high standard, with an average vessel turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours (global industry average 48 to 72 hours); iron ore loading rates of more than 10,000 tonnes an hour (7,500 to 9,000 globally); and 85 to 90 per cent berth utilisation, compared to 75 to 80 per cent globally.
Safety performance also surpassed industry standards – incidents per million tonnes were recorded as less than 0.5, compared to 0.8 to 1.2 globally.
The authority explained that these efficiency metrics translated directly into competitive advantages for Australian exporters, reducing shipping costs and enhancing delivery reliability.
It said: “[Our] performance metrics represent industry benchmarks that many global competitors strive to achieve, reflecting decades of continuous improvement and strategic investment.
Port Hedland maintained its dominant position within the network, handling 577.7 million tonnes in the financial year, which represented approximately 75 per cent of the authority’s total throughput.
The port recorded a year-over-year growth of about 1 per cent and maintained its position as the world’s largest bulk export port by volume.
Iron ore was the primary commodity exported from the Pilbara, with the 730 million tonnes shipped during the financial year up 3 per cent on the previous year and constituting about 81 per cent of Australia’s total iron ore exports.
Notably, iron ore exports from the Pilbara account for about 43 per cent of the global seaborne iron ore market, making it perhaps the world’s most significant export hub for a single commodity and highlighting the region’s critical importance to national trade.
However, the port authority has intentionally pursued a strategy of commodity diversification, aiming to reduce its reliance on iron ore exports alone.
The diversification plan serves multiple strategic purposes, particularly increasing economic resilience, future-proofing and positioning for growth, maintaining market stability during sector-specific downturns, and attracting investment and additional resource development to the region.
Salt exports have been a focus, reaching 5.3 million tonnes during the period, which accounts for about a quarter (26 per cent) of Australia’s total salt production. Additionally, the ports are increasingly handling battery metals and critical minerals essential for the global energy transition.
These include lithium concentrates to support EV battery production, copper for renewable energy infrastructure, rare earth elements essential for high-tech manufacturing and defence applications, and manganese, which is required for steel production and emerging battery technologies.
The main driver of future growth in Pilbara Ports, however, will be its significant infrastructure development at Lumsden Point in Port Hedland, which comprises new multi-user facilities, berths, and a logistics hub, diversifying trade in the Pilbara and supporting the growth of Australian energy industries.
Currently under construction, with completion targeted for 2026, the facility will support future trade, as it is specifically designed to accommodate battery metals exports and other goods that extend beyond traditional bulk commodities.
The design features relating to battery mineral exports include specialised loading equipment for containerised concentrates, enhanced environmental controls for handling critical minerals, dedicated storage facilities for various mineral types, and improved road and rail connections to mines.
Along with expanding direct shipping services to Port Hedland, the project will facilitate the export of battery metals such as lithium and copper concentrates, as well as the import of renewable energy infrastructure, including wind turbines and blades.
The development is backed by $129.1 million in state government funding, which includes construction of seawalls, a causeway to connect the wharf to the proposed logistics hub, dredging of the inner harbour, and construction of roads in support of the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub.
The port authority outlined its growth targets for the coming year, aiming for a throughput of more than 800 million tonnes by the financial year 2027. It plans for non-iron ore commodities to represent 20 per cent of total volume by 2030, along with an increase in the proportion of processed materials compared to raw materials.
It also released its first climate action plan, which outlines a pathway towards a sustainable future for its port operations and details practical steps to be taken over the five years leading to 2030 that will support its customers’ decarbonisation efforts.
