Exports up in Pilbara

December throughput was higher at the state’s major north-west ports, with the Pilbara Ports Authority reporting nearly 60.5 million tonnes of cargo passing over its docks in the month, up 12 per cent on the same time in 2015.

That was partly driven by higher iron ore export volumes, which were up around 17 per cent on December 2015 levels, at 44.5mt.

The Port of Port Hedland achieved hit a monthly record with a throughput of 44.5mt, an increase of 17 per cent from the previous year.

Imports, which have a significantly smaller share of the trade in the north-west, totalled just 149,000 tonnes at Port Hedland.

That was a decrease of 10,000t, or 6 per cent, from the previous year.

The Port of Dampier delivered a total monthly throughput of 15.9mt, a slight increase, while imports totalled 83,000t, an increase of 10,000t, or 13 per cent, from the previous year.