Dry Bulk

Dry bulk cargo comprises mineral concentrates and ores, fertilisers, sugar, cement, sulphur, animal feedstuffs and coking coal.  Throughput of dry bulk cargo accounts for approximately 70% of total trade.

Queensland Pacific Metals will import over 1 million tonnes of high grade limonite nickel ore, as announced in its MOU with Port of Townsville, as it ramps up production from first expected imports within two years.  Australian Mines will significantly boost the Port’s bulk sulphur imports, a processing input, within the next five years for their Sconi project near Greenvale.  

Port of Townsville is the primary export port for the North West Minerals Provinces surrounding the Mt Isa and Cloncurry region. Continuing major mining projects include, South 32’s Cannington mine, Glencore’s George Fisher, Lady Loretta, Ernest Henry mine as well as X41 and Enterprise, MMG’s Dugald River mine, Capricorn Copper’s Mt Gordon mine, FMR’s Eloise copper mine and Incitec Pivot’s Phosphate Hill fertiliser manufacturing plant.  The Port also exports lead and zinc from Red River Resources Thalanga’s project near Charters Towers. 

New mining projects expected to commence exports in the next several years include Aeon Metals’ Walford Creek project, Vendetta Mining’s Pegmont project and Multicom’s Saint Elmo project.

Sugar, across both Port of Townsville and Port of Lucinda remain our single largest bulk product at both Ports, with an average of 1.2 million tonnes of Burdekin sugar and 500,000 tonnes of Herbert River sugar exported each year.