Pilbara Ports delivered a monthly throughput of 71.2 million tonnes (Mt) in December 2025 – the highest December on record for the authority – driven by stronger iron ore shipments through the Port of Port Hedland and firm demand across its facilities.
The result marked a 7 per cent increase on December 2024, underscoring broader operational gains implemented at Pilbara Ports in late 2025.
Pilbara Ports attributed the milestone to a series of targeted changes at Port Hedland, including revised vessel movement procedures for ebb-tide departures and enhancements to Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) practices. These adjustments broadened sailing opportunities for larger ships, optimising cargo loading windows and contributing to increased shipping volumes.
The Port of Port Hedland itself achieved a monthly throughput of 51.7Mt, with 50.9Mt accounted for iron ore exports – both up around 7 per cent compared to December 2024. Imports through Port Hedland totalled 167,000 tonnes, down 15 per cent year-on-year.
At the Port of Dampier, total throughput reached 17Mt in December, also climbing 6 per cent on the previous year, with imports increasing sharply by 67 per cent to 140,000 tonnes.
Pilbara Ports noted that throughput can fluctuate due to market conditions, maintenance activities and proponent needs, but said December’s result demonstrated both the resilience of the Pilbara’s export footprint and the impact of operational refinements.
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