Record broken for Pilbara at Port Hedland

The Port of Port Hedland, which is managed by Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA), has broken its previous record for 24-hour throughput by achieving 2.817 million tonnes of iron ore with 15 vessel movements. This surpasses the previous record of 2.573 million tonnes set in December 2021. Despite temporary closure due to Cyclone Ilsa, the Port of Port Hedland was able to achieve this result. Cyclone Ilsa hit the Pilbara coast as a category five storm on April 13, forcing the PPA to close the port. However, after safety inspections were completed, the port was reopened on April 14. The incoming cyclone was not as severe as anticipated, and the late change in its path allowed the port to escape the worst of the storm.

The Port of Port Hedland had not been forced to shut down since 2019 when tropical cyclone Veronica struck the coast in March of that same year. The latest Port of Port Hedland throughput results are the largest 24-hour throughput the port has ever seen. The PPA’s chief executive officer Roger Johnston stated that the record was achieved due to the hard work of the PPA team, who quickly got the port up and running after the passing of Cyclone Ilsa.

Johnston also expressed his gratitude to the team for their outstanding efforts and mentioned that he has never heard of a port bouncing back as well as the Port of Port Hedland did after a closure. Despite the challenges posed by the cyclone, the PPA was able to break its previous record for 24-hour throughput, indicating the resilience and commitment of the PPA team.

The Port of Port Hedland is the world’s largest bulk export port and a critical economic contributor to Western Australia. It handles a variety of commodities, including iron ore, salt, and petroleum, and is an important gateway for Australian exports to international markets. The PPA’s focus on safety and efficiency has helped the Port of Port Hedland become a world-class facility that has continued to grow and expand over the years. With the PPA’s commitment to excellence and the hard work of its team, the Port of Port Hedland is expected to continue to thrive and make significant contributions to the economy of Western Australia.