RECORD cruise ship and resource vessel visits have helped Darwin Port lift its EBITDA to $42.4 million for the 2025 financial year, up from $34 million the previous year.
The port also recorded its first net profit of around $9.6 million.
The stronger earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation generated a net cash inflow of $32.8 million after debt obligations.
Terry O’Connor, non-executive director of port owner Landbridge Infrastructure Australia, also attributed the improvement to activity associated with Santos’ Barossa oil and gas project, which has seen offshore support vessels calling Darwin Port rise from 400 to 600 annual visits during the past year’s construction phase.
Darwin Port also saw a more than five-fold increase in cattle exports during the past year, with 117,406 beasts shipped in the 12 months to 30 April 2025, up from 21,924 for the same period the previous year, according to the NT Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Mr O’Connor told DCN Landbridge had restructured its ownership of Darwin Port by converting debt to equity.
Along with higher port activity, the removal of inter-company loans and associated interest expenses pushed Darwin Port into the black for the first time under Landbridge’s ownership, Mr O’Connor said.
“Darwin Port continues to focus on its growth prospects, recently releasing a master plan which sets out our long-term vision for the progressive development of the port over the next 30 years,” he said.
The master plan includes construction of additional quay lines to support the container and ro-ro trades and the creation of a car park and infrastructure for a future Aurizon-NYK partnership to send cars landed at Darwin Port south by rail.
There has been speculation about a possible sale of the highly strategic port to American interests associated with US President Donald Trump.
Both Landbridge and the Australian government have to date remained tight-lipped about the ownership situation.