The Port of Mackay is celebrating its 85th birthday as well as record trade performance over the past 12 months.
Total trade through the port reached 3.58 million tonnes in 2023-24, compared to 3.51 million tonnes for the same period last year and just shy of the record 3.59 million tonnes in 2021-22.
North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) CEO Brendan Webb said the buoyant trade performance highlighted how the publicly owned port is powering into the future.
“Since the start, the Port of Mackay has been a pivotal hub for trade in North Queensland, and this year is no exception,” Mr Webb said.
“In 2023-24 petroleum, the top traded commodity, saw its highest-ever volume at 1.85 million tonnes, surpassing the 1.84 million tonnes of 2021-22.
“Agricultural commodities continued to trade strongly, with sugar (1.04 million tonnes), and grain (334,729 tonnes) amongst the top three trades.”
The official opening of Mackay Harbour by William Forgan Smith, the then Premier and Member for Mackay, on 26 August 1939 was a pivotal point in the region’s development.
The Port of Mackay is poised to once again play a pioneering role in the region’s prosperity.
“The Port of Mackay has been there every step of the way as our region has established itself as a cornerstone for mining and trade in Northern Queensland,” Mr Webb said.
“Looking to the future, the Port of Mackay will be key to enabling the development of projects critical to the State Government’s decarbonisation targets and the Energy and Jobs Plan.
“There is a suite of proposed renewable energy projects slated for development across the region that will require imports through the Port of Mackay to come to life.
“We stand ready to embrace the development of renewable energy as the next big economic cornerstone that will drive prosperity for our region and Queensland as a whole.”
NQBP is a Queensland Government-owned corporation responsible for the ports of Mackay, Abbot Point, Hay Point, and Weipa in Far North Queensland.
Overall trade across NQBP’s ports remained strong at 151.82 million tonnes (Hay Point 96.24 million tonnes, Mackay 3.58 million tonnes Abbot Point 34.66 million tonnes and Weipa 17.34 million tonnes).
Image: North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation
