Fremantle Ports Gears up for Busy Grain Export Year Ahead

WA farmers’ outstanding recent grain harvest will result in back-to-back grain shipments throughout 2023, according to Fremantle Ports. Grain handler CBH Group has reported the WA harvest has surpassed last year’s record crop receival of 21.3 million tonnes, already hitting an all-time high of around 21.8m tonnes, making it the best year on record.

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Published 13 Jan 2023

Fremantle Ports Gears up for Busy Grain Export Year Ahead

WA farmers’ outstanding recent grain harvest will result in back-to-back grain shipments throughout 2023, according to Fremantle Ports.

Grain handler CBH Group has reported the WA harvest has surpassed last year’s record crop receival of 21.3 million tonnes, already hitting an all-time high of around 21.8m tonnes, making it the best year on record.

The Kwinana Grain Terminal is a major facility within the Port of Fremantle, responsible for handling a significant share of the State’s annual grain exports.

“We’re predicting continual ship arrivals throughout the year, to get Western Australia’s crop of wheat, canola, lupins and barley away to overseas markets,” said Fremantle Ports’ Manager Government and Public Relations Neil Stanbury.

“Supporting that efficient cargo-handling, in cooperation with CBH Group, requires continual efficient provision of shore crews to tie up and let go ships, clear channel access, tugs and piloting services, and that will be a focus for us,” he said.

The Port of Fremantle received 123 grain ships last financial year, with 70 in the first six months of this financial year, indicating a likely bumper year of ship movements.

By volume, bulk grain exports in 2021-22 made up 56.4% of the Port of Fremantle’s Outer Harbour major exports, with the main destinations China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Yemen. 40,000 containers of grain were also exported from Fremantle last year, totalling 651,000 tonnes.

Of Fremantle’s top five bulk export commodities, wheat ranks first, with canola third and barley fourth.

“Our goal is to ensure outbound trade is handled quickly and efficiently and the supply chain optimised, so receival points for goods throughout the State can run at maximum efficiency, driving our State’s growth,” Mr Stanbury said.

Grain is also exported through Albany, Geraldton and Esperance.