Port Kembla bulk freight operations position for growth as infrastructure investment continues

Port Kembla is NSW's second largest port by tonnage and serves as a critical piece of infrastructure for the state's bulk commodity trade. The port handles a diverse cargo mix including coal exports, grain and fertiliser movements for the agricultural sector, and vehicle imports that supply dealers across NSW. This diversity gives Port Kembla a more resilient commercial base than single-commodity ports and positions it to benefit from growth across multiple freight categories.

The port's relationship with BlueScope Steel's adjacent steelworks is symbiotic and long-standing. Raw materials arriving for the steelworks and finished steel products departing for domestic and export markets represent a significant freight task that is built into the port's operational DNA. Any evolution in the steelworks' operational model, including the transition to lower-emissions production, will have implications for the port's cargo mix and infrastructure requirements.

Grain exports through Port Kembla reflect the productivity of the NSW agricultural interior and the Riverina, with the port serving as the most direct export pathway for growers in the southern and western NSW cropping belt. The quality and reliability of grain export operations are important factors in the competitiveness of NSW grain in international markets, and investment in the port's grain handling infrastructure is an industry priority.

Infrastructure NSW's port planning framework identifies Port Kembla as a long-term growth asset for the state, with capacity expansion options being assessed to ensure the port can accommodate projected freight growth over the coming decades. These planning processes engage port users, the community and environmental stakeholders in a deliberation about the appropriate scale and pace of expansion.

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