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Posted by Allen Newton
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30 June, 2026
WITH more than 1000 ore carriers leaving Port Hedland each year, Fortescue has shipped a record 200 million tonnes of iron ore in a single year, the first time in its history.
It has grown from 140 vessels when the first Fortescue shipment left Port Hedland in May 2008 to today’s record with three ship loaders servicing the vessels carrying Fortescue’s Pilbara product to the world in what the company claims is the world’s most efficient iron ore producer.
A statement from Fortescue said the new shipping record was sufficient to fill 30,000 Olympic swimming pools every single year and brought the total ore shipped by Fortescue to date, to more than 2.5 billion tonnes.
Fortescue Metals CEO Dino Otranto reflected upon the growth of the business.
“Two decades ago, people said Fortescue was too ambitious, they said we’d never even get our ore to port," Mr Otranto said.
"But, we’ve been proving them wrong ever since and now we’re setting new records, shipping 200 million tonnes to our customers every single year.
“We have delivered huge value to shareholders, opened up the Pilbara and built one of Australia’s greatest business success stories. We’ve come a long way and we’re not slowing down," he said.
“From our first shipment to now, our Fortescue teams have shown what can happen when you stay nimble, move fast, back your people and never, ever give up.”
Will Lockyer from Port Operations was part of the original team that loaded Fortescue’s first shipment.
“This is a reflection of years of hard work from people right across the business, and that’s what this milestone is really about,” he said.
“In the early days everything was new and we were learning as we went. Over two decades we’ve seen technology advance and our operations become stronger, but what hasn’t changed is people who’ve grown alongside the business.”
“It’s impressive to see just how far we’ve come, not just with the tonnes we’ve shipped, but as a team and one big Fortescue family.”
