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The Port of Newcastle achieves another record trade year

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A record 164.3 million tonnes of trade was handled by the Port of Newcastle in 2014, marking another record trade year.
This was a 5.3% increase in port trade, which comprises more than 25 cargoes, on the previous year.
Coal exports comprised 159 million tonnes, reflecting increasing global demand for the region’s premium thermal and coking coal. Non coal trade (imports and exports) comprised almost 5.3 million tonnes in 2014.
Coal continues to be the port’s largest commodity, comprising 97% of trade throughput. Coal exports increased by 6% in 2014.
A new monthly coal export record of 15.8 million tonnes was achieved in December 2014, exceeding the previous record of 15.1 million tonnes set in December 2013.
Continuing cooperation between all members of the Hunter Valley Coal Chain, coupled with investment in port and rail infrastructure, will provide continued growth opportunities for the port’s coal export trade.
For non-coal cargo growth was recorded in: fuels (80.3%); fertiliser (25.7%); and alumina (1.3%). There was a significant decline in grain exports due to the drought.
 
Cargo 2013 2014 Variance
Alumina 1,048,636 1,062,453 1.3%
Aluminium 122,856 103,595 -15.7%
Coal 150,544,942 159,035,923 5.6%
Concentrates 442,734 479,514 8.3%
Fertiliser 353,309 444,224 25.7%
Fuels 649,974 1,171,700 80.3%
Tar and Pitch 253,802 272,592 7.4%
Meals & Grains 389,826 192,655 -50.6%
Petroleum Coke 204,503 211,751 3.5%
Steel 260,866 255,817 -1.9%
Wheat 891,837 356,241 -60.1%
Other Trade 959,423 737,243 -23.2%
Total Trade (Mass Tonnes) 156,122,708 164,323,708 5.3%
 

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