ANL’s chartered containership Contship Yen has sailed from the north-west port of Wyndham for Singapore with the first shipment of export cotton from the Kimberley Cotton Gin.
The 1,102 TEU, PAX service vessel loaded about 60 40-foot containers, each carrying approximately 104 bales of high-quality cotton, according to a WA Government media release.
The government says the shipment is a boost for diversifying regional economies and opening new trade opportunities in Australia's North West.
The cotton gin was supported by a $9 million investment by the state government and a $34 million Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility loan from the Australian Government.
Kimberley Cotton Company Limited (KCCL) was formed April 2021 to establish a multi-user cotton processing facility in Kununurra, which was opened in August this year, just in time for the Ord cotton ginning season.
The Kimberley Cotton Gin project is supported by founding shareholders Kimberley Agricultural Investment Pty Ltd (KAI), Ord River District Cooperative Ltd (ORDCO) & Yawoorroong Miriuwung Gajerrong Yirrgeb Noong Dawang Aboriginal Corporation (MG Corporation). Other key shareholders include Prime Grain Pty Ltd, Namoi Cotton Limited, Cotton Growers Services Pty Ltd, as well as local family growers and businesses in the Ord Valley region.
The Port of Wyndham is operated by Cambridge Gulf Ltd, under the auspices of the Kimberley Ports Authority. The port is well on the way to gaining First Point of Entry status from Federal authorities, supported by a $14 million investment from the WA Government in new biosecurity infrastructure.
The government says the export milestone has been supported by strong co-operation between State and Federal agencies, the local cotton industry, traditional owners and the Ord River District Co-operative.
Regional Development and Ports Minister Stephen Dawson said the Government “is committed to ensuring our port infrastructure can support our regional communities through opening up new economic opportunities which will deliver jobs throughout the region.
“This shipment is a historic moment for the region, highlighting the growing potential of the Kimberley cotton industry, the diversification of the regional economy, and the strategic importance of the Port of Wyndham.
“The gin is already boosting local jobs across farming, processing, and transport and is a clear example of how targeted regional investment can unlock long-term economic benefits for the Kimberley.”