The Port of Gladstone is a major bulk port. Although coal exports comprise over 70% of the port's total trade, the remainder of the port's trade mix mainly comprises other dry bulk cargoes.

The latest statistics for all of the port's dry bulk trades are available in the Latest Statistics section. Detailed statistics by cargo, wharf, month, financial and calendar year are available in the Port Statistics section.

Dry Bulk Cargoes - Auckland Point

Bulk woodchip, deadburnt magnesia and calcite are exported through CQPA's Auckland Point No.1 Wharf. Woodchip and calcite are stored in open stockpiles adjacent to the wharf while deadburnt magnesia is stored in a Globex shed adjacent to Auckland Point No.2 Wharf. Grain is also exported by Globex through Auckland Point No.2 Wharf.

All of these products share the same shiploading system with contamination control provided through CQPA's quality assurance program. Some opportunity exists at Auckland Point to handle export of other dry bulk cargoes through the provision of further covered or open storage and conveyor extensions.

For the import of bulk cargoes, Auckland Point No.4 Wharf provides a suitable facility for bulk products to be discharged using ships cranes onto the wharf deck and loaded into trucks. Large areas of port land are available adjacent to Auckland Point No.4 for storage of dry bulk cargoes.

Dry Bulk Cargoes - Barney Point Terminal

Bulk magnesite and cottonseed are exported through CQPA's Barney Point Terminal. Open stockpiles are provided adjacent to the wharf with both products gaining access to the shiploading system through a hopper/belt feeder configuration, fed by front-end loaders or trucks.

Significant opportunity exists at Barney Point to handle export of other dry bulk cargoes, with an open storage pad available immediately adjacent to the existing magnesite stockpile. CQPA's long-term plans for Barney Point include the removal of coal from the terminal and the development of multiple product stockpiles and sheds for a variety of non-dusty, dry bulk products with receival available by rail.

Further information on the ports facilities for handling dry bulk cargoes is available from our Port Information Handbook.

To discuss options for handling Dry Bulk Cargoes through Auckland Point and Barney Point please contact our Marketing Department.

Local Industry

In addition to the Dry Bulk Cargoes handled by CQPA at Auckland Point and Barney Point, a variety of other Dry Bulk Cargoes are handled by local industries established in the port area.

Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) owns and operates the world's largest alumina refinery and handles almost 12.0 million tonnes (Mt) of dry bulk cargoes annually. Approximately 9.0Mt of this total comprises bauxite, shipped to Gladstone from Weipa, North Queensland. Alumina exports comprise the remaining 3.0Mt.

QAL owns and operates South Trees Wharves, where both bauxite is unloaded and alumina loaded.

Cement Australia Limited owns and operates Australia's largest cement plant with an annual production capacity of 1.6 million tonnes per annum of cement clinker. The majority of this tonnage is loaded through Fisherman's Landing No.4 Wharf, along with over 120,000 tonnes of flyash.

A variety of other minor dry bulk trades are associated with Cement Australia, including the import of cement gypsum and copper slag, mainly through Auckland Point No.4 Wharf.