SOUTHERN Ports has announced that its port at Bunbury has achieved an overall trade record for the year 2020-21, of 17.11 million tonnes of throughput. This is up from 16.95 million tonnes in 2017-18.
Located 180 kilometres south of Perth, the port has benefitted from a strong harvest in the South West region over the past year.
CEO Steve Lewis said this was a great achievement for the port, with strong trade figures for all commodities.
“Strong organic growth in other commodities such as alumina also supported the trade record, showing positive progress in our growing port.
“It is truly a team effort to facilitate this much trade, and I’d like to extend my thanks and congratulations to our staff, port users and other stakeholders for their support,” he said.
A total of 444 vessels were active in the port in 2020-21, moving a range of goods including 14.02 million tonnes of minerals; 1.07 million tonnes of wood products; 1.48 million tonnes of other products; and 552,521 tonnes of grain.
Mr Lewis said the record year was especially pleasing in the light of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic.
“When the global pandemic hit last year, Southern Ports identified continuing to support the WA freight task by keeping our ports open for cargo vessels as one of our key goals.
“To break this trade record even in these challenging conditions is a testament to the strength of the South West region’s industries and economy.”
