IRON ore exports are ramping up at Darwin Port with the first outbound shipment of iron ore sourced from a mine in the state’s Roper region.
Bulk carrier The Harmony departed the port of Darwin on Friday carrying 57,750 tonnes of iron ore to port of Dung Quat, Vietnam.
The recent shipment is stage one for the Roper Valley iron ore project, which expects to see 300,000 tonnes of iron ore exported from Darwin Port before the end of 2022.
Stage two of the project involves a recommencement of mining in 2023 and plans to transport the commodity to Darwin Port by rail.
Darwin Port acting CEO Peter Dummett said he was pleased to see iron ore moving through the port.
“We believe this will be the first of many exports of iron ore for Northern Territory Iron Ore, which is great for local industry, and Northern Australia generally,” Mr Dummett said.
“Darwin Port supports the growth of trade from the Territory and is excited to see Hoa Phat’s plans to export iron ore through the port,” said Mr Dummett.
Industrial manufacturing group Hoa Phat, trading as Northern Territory Iron Ore, began storing iron ore at the port in May this year. The company is the largest steel producer in Vietnam.
The arrival of the first 100-tonne iron ore truckload in May was followed by around 580 more truck arrivals from the mine.
