Western Australia — July 25, 2025 — Southern Ports has marked another milestone year by setting 13 new trade records across its three regional ports—Albany, Bunbury and Esperance—continuing its multi-year streak of record‑breaking throughput.
Highlights from the Year
Southern Ports achieved more than 30 million tonnes of total trade across 40 commodity types, up from around 35 million tonnes in the prior year’s combined tally.
Notable Record Volumes
- Fertiliser imports reached over 600,000 tonnes across all ports—a jump of 60,000 tonnes on the previous year and 215,000 tonnes more than in 2023. Individually, the Port of Esperance handled approximately 305,000 t, while the Port of Albany managed about 282,000 t—a new high for both.
- Caustic soda imports set fresh records, particularly through Bunbury handling 1.6 million tonnes, representing record-breaking growth once again.
- Silica sand exports reached an all-time high of 714,000 t, led by Bunbury alone achieving 548,000 t—a dramatic increase year-on-year owing to new customer contracts such as with Heidelberg Materials.
- Scrap metal exports (62,000 t) and breakbulk imports (30,250 t) were all handled via Bunbury, including the delivery of components for large regional infrastructure projects like battery storage facilities—and both numbers were records.
- Spodumene exports surged by over 380,000 t to reach a new peak of approximately 1.8 million tonnes at Bunbury alone, maintaining that port’s status as a world leader in lithium ore exports.
- Two new commodities were introduced at the ports for the first time: sugar imports (~23,000 t) at Bunbury, and feldspar exports (~12,000 t) at Esperance.
Leadership Commentary
Southern Ports CEO Keith Wilks described the import records as indicators of regional investment, explaining that while the ports are traditionally export-focused, growing inbound trade is vital to support local industries such as agriculture.
“Our ability to welcome new customers such as Heidelberg Materials… positioned us to further diversify trade,” Wilks noted, pointing to new infrastructure and collaboration efforts like direct unloading agreements with companies such as CSBP at Esperance.
Strategic Significance & Context
This achievement builds on a pattern of strong results: Southern Ports recorded nine trade records in FY 2023–24, and 16 in FY 2022‑23, demonstrating sustained growth across export and import lines. Key commodities such as spodumene have been under particular focus, ensuring Western Australia’s exports remain central to global renewable energy supply chains .
Southern Ports’ sustained expansion reflects strategic investments in port infrastructure—including upgraded berthing, conveyor systems, and warehousing capacity—allowing them to handle new cargo types and accommodate larger shipments efficiently.
Summary Table
| Port / Commodity | Record Volume (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Fertiliser imports | > 600,000 t combined |
| • Esperance | ~305,000 t |
| • Albany | ~282,000 t |
| Caustic soda imports | ~1.6 million t (Bunbury) |
| Silica sand exports | ~714,000 t (548,000 t from Bunbury) |
| Spodumene exports | ~1.8 million t (Bunbury) |
| Scrap metal exports | ~62,000 t (Bunbury) |
| Break‑bulk imports | ~30,250 t (Bunbury) |
| New commodities | Sugar imports (~23,000 t), Feldspar exports (~12,000 t) |
Southern Ports’ achievements underline the region’s growing role in both domestic supply chain resilience and global commodity trade—serving agriculture, energy transition minerals, and regional development alike.
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