Port Hedland’s Volumes Down

Australian port of Port Hedland has achieved a monthly throughput of 34.1 million tonnes (Mt) in January 2016, a decrease of 9% from 37.3 Mt handled in the same month in 2015.

January iron ore exports totalled 33.7 Mt, a decrease of 8% from 36.7 Mt seen a year earlier, while imports reached 134,000 tonnes, 66,000 tonnes or 33% less than in January 2015.

The Port of Dampier handled 12.7 Mt during the month, a slight decrease of 1% from the same period in 2015.

Imports reached 94,000 tonnes, a rise of 22,000 tonnes or 31% from the same month in the previous year.

Overall, Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has seen a total 46.8 Mt of cargo in January, compared to the 50.1 Mt handled a year earlier.

The decrease could partially be attributed to the temporary closure of Dampier and Port Hedland ports due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Stan.

Namely, Port Hedland was closed for some 48 hours, while the outer anchorages were closed for some 65 hours.

At Dampier, the inner anchorages were closed for 45 hours, while the Port of Ashburton was not affected by the cyclone.