What Are The Main Shipping Ports From Australia?

Australia has become a significant country for international shipping. Its South Pacific location makes it available to a vast number of countries, with $1.2 billion of trade being moved through its shipping ports every day. The continent of Oceania is also rich in natural resources, exporting many agricultural goods such as wool, iron ore, gold, LNG and coal to countries such as Japan, China, the United States, South Korea and New Zealand.

There are many important ports across Australia, but we have selected the main ones based on their socio-economic contribution.

Port of Newcastle

Located in New South Wales, the Port of Newcastle is the largest shipping port on Australia’s eastern coastline. It is responsible for over 167 million tons of cargo each year and is well-connected to significant ports throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It also handles a large number of maritime cruises each year. The port has created 4700 jobs for the local community, boosting the local economy greatly – $1.8 billion in gross state product.

Port of Sydney

The port in Sydney is a natural harbour that provides commercial shipping and recreational services. It spans 103 acres, consisting of 11 berths and some additional private berths situated at Gore cove. There is also a bulk terminal with three dedicated berths for sugar, cement and salt. Each year, it sees 250,000 passengers pass through and the handling of 29 million tonnes of cargo.

Port of Darwin

The Port of Darwin is known as the primary port serving Northern Australia, situated on the Beagle Gulf that opens into the Timor Sea. The port supports the local region’s pastoral and mining sectors, exporting their products such as tiles, bricks, uranium, fruits, pearls, zinc and livestock. In total, over 15000 ships and 9000 TEU are handled at this port each year.

Port of Melbourne

As the country’s largest port for containerised cargo, the Port of Melbourne handles 79 million tons of cargo and 3.28 million TEU each year. The port has 34 cargo handling facilities, alongside 5 river docks, 2 container terminals and 3 multipurpose berths for handling timber and automobiles at the ‘Swanson dock’.

Port of Adelaide

Situated several kilometres inland from the St Vincent Gulf, the Port of Adelaide is the prime shipping port of Southern Australia. It is a notable port for exporting vehicles, grains, automobile parts, ores, concentrates and wine. In total, the port handles more than 110 million tons of cargo and over 1000 ships each year.

Port of Brisbane

The Port of Brisbane is the third-largest container facility located on the Eastern coastline. Some of the common goods seen moving through the port include wool, processed meat, sand, sugar, canned food and dairy goods. The port city has oil refineries and sawmills, and as such, the port deals with imports of crude oil, chemicals, wood, construction materials, and transportation equipment.

Port of Fremantle

The port of Fremantle is widely considered the busiest port in Western Australia, as it handles more than 35 million tons of cargo each year alongside maritime cruises and the navy. This level of activity allows it to contribute on a local and global scale. It’s situated at the start of Swan River on the country’s southwestern coast, spanning 160 hectares. It is also a notable cruise destination, handling 1580 ships and 1450 passengers annually.

Port of Hedland

The Port of Hedland is the world’s largest bulk export port and the biggest port in Australia and the Oceania region. It handles more than 452 million tons of cargo every year and is ranked level one in terms of maritime security. It mainly deals with shipments of iron ore, but other commodities handled at the port include ammonium, fuel oils, lithium, cement, salt, sulphuric acid, copper, chromite, and livestock.

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