Containerised Cargo

Port of Townsville facilitates trade in a large variety of containerised commodities, including general and small sized/light project cargo, refined metals and production input cargo, together accounting for just under 10% of total trade. Containerised imports such as chemical products, plant, machinery and tyres service the mining, agricultural and industrial sectors of north and central Queensland, while refined minerals from the Glencore copper refinery and Sun Metals zinc refinery, together with bagged mineral ores from Evolution mine account for more than half of containerised exports. 

A number of multi-faceted trade projects will contribute to increased containerised commodity exports.  Queensland Pacific Metals, Pure Battery Technologies and Australian Mines’ Sconi Project will ramp up exports of cobalt and nickel sulphate products for electric vehicle markets over the next decade.   

Agripower will also increase their containerised exports of silicon fertiliser as they progress their plans to double the plant capacity at their Charters Towers processing facility within the next five years. 

A number of solar projects will also see sustained containerised  imports of solar panels over the next few years.    

Continued engagement with the agricultural sector remains a vital component of the Port's trade diversification and containerised cargo development strategy with containerised grain and horticultural exports expected to contribute to growth over the next five to 10 years.

Coastal shipping initiatives as announced by the State Government and channel capacity upgrade works will catalyse growth.  The newly installed post-panamax ship to shore crane will facilitate operational efficiencies adding to Port of Townsville’s capacity and capability to service container liners.