WASHINGTON: The Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has reported record annual throughput at its two ports of 633.5 million tonnes for the financial year. This is an increase of 13mt or 2 per cent from last year’s figure. In the month of June, PPA achieved a total monthly throughput of 55.9mt, an increase of 1.8mt or 3 per cent on the previous year. The figures highlight that while the price of iron ore has fallen sharply over the past year, production and exports of the commodity are at record levels.
The Port of Port Hedland achieved a record annual throughput of 460.4mt, an increase of 13.4mt or 3 per cent from the previous year. Iron ore exports, which account for the majority of the port’s throughput, totalled 454.2mt for the year, an increase of 14.6mt or 3 per cent from the previous year.
The port also achieved a record monthly throughput of 42.2mt in June, an increase of 3.3mt or 9 per cent from the same month last year. Iron ore exports in June totalled 41.8mt, an increase of 3.4mt or 9 per cent from the same time last year. Imports for the year totalled 1.6mt, a decrease of 463,000 tonnes or 22 per cent from last year. June imports totalled 164,000 tonnes, an increase of 51,000 tonnes or 46 per cent from the same month in 2015.
The port of Dampier delivered an annual throughput of 173.1mt, a slight increase of 200,000 tonnes from the previous year. In June, the port achieved a monthly throughput of 13.6mt, an increase of 1.5mt or 10 per cent from the same month in 2015. Imports for the year totalled 1.1mt, a slight increase of 70,000 tonnes or 6 per cent from the previous year. June imports totalled 55,000 tonnes, a decrease of 41,000 tonnes or 43 per cent from the same month in 2014.
