Port of Mackay
As Queensland’s fourth largest multi-commodity port by throughput, Mackay is one of the major servicing centres for the Central Queensland mining and agricultural industries.
The port operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and extends over 800 hectares of land and water under the direct control of North Queensland Bulk Ports.
The Mackay region is the largest sugar producing area in Australia, and the port hosts one of the world’s largest bulk sugar terminals. The region also supports the nearby Bowen Basin and Galilee Basin coalfields, which produce most of Queensland’s coal.
The Port of Mackay not only services coastal and international shipping but has also become popular with recreation small craft vessels. The neighbouring Mackay Marina (owned privately) features a residential and tourist precinct, major marina amenities, 479 marina berths and lift out shipyard.
Business enquiries
- Trade opportunities at the Port of Mackay
- Commercial leasing
Location
Located five kilometres north of the city of Mackay – about halfway between Brisbane and Cairns – the port comprises four wharves within the sheltered waters of Mackay Harbour. Its proximity to the Mackay CBD, and Australia’s leading mining equipment technology and services (METS) hub in Paget, makes this tailored port an ideal integrated logistics transport solution for your trade needs. What’s more, it boasts land transport links by road and rail, and water links by ship or barge.
Mackay’s multi-cargo import and export port offers easy access to the Whitsunday, Central Highlands and coal fields regions, as well as a primary link to the rest of the world through its break-bulk port.
Trading through Mackay
There are many strategic advantages to using the Port of Mackay, including limited (if any) ship queuing (demurrage), common user infrastructure, a quarantine wash-down facility and licensed customs depot, ready access to major transportation corridors and an extensive land bank for laydown areas or development.
With proximity to current and future regional resource projects and agricultural developments, the port is an ideal supply-chain partner for both inbound and outbound commodities and goods.
The primary commodities traded through the Port of Mackay include fuel, sugar (raw and refined), grain, magnetite, fertiliser and scrap metal.
See port throughput figures or find out more about trading through Mackay.
Strategic planning
Long term development of the Port of Mackay will ensure it becomes an integral and inseparable element of the economy and culture of the Mackay region.
While the port’s existing infrastructure and configuration can accommodate 550 to 600 ships per year, it currently handles only around 200 ships each year. The port has a combined import and export cargo capacity of more than six million tonnes per year, yet current trade sits at around half this level.
NQBP is committed to investing in and upgrading port facilities, and working with our customers to progress trade opportunities to ensure regional prosperity.
The port accommodates more than 70 industrial and commercial businesses with more than 147 hectares of land under lease. Areas of vacant land are available for regional industry demands into the future.
Read an overview of our planning or consult the Port of Mackay land use plan.
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Minimal ship traffic
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Four wharves, including heavy lift wharf
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Extensive common user infrastructure including roll-on/roll-off (RORO) barge facility
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Key gateway for regional Queensland with ready access to transport corridors (sea, rail and land)
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General and break-bulk cargoes at 3 berths
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Large land bank for laydown areas or development
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Accommodation for oversize and over mass vehicles and loads
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Proximity to existing and future development projects
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- Port of Mackay operations manual revised 2021
- Port of Mackay security advice
- Fees and charges
- Port rules and regulations
- Safety and security
- Shipping schedules
- Pilotage
- Apply to berth at Port of Mackay
- Bringing break bulk through Port of Mackay
- Drinking Water Quality Management Plan
- Long-term Maintenance Dredging Management Plan
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As a port authority, NQBP is responsible for strategic planning; business and infrastructure development; environmental management; security and safety; efficiency; maintaining navigable port depths for shipping; and issuing licences, leases and permits to other organisations for use of port land, infrastructure and facilities. NQBP also oversees port pilotage operations and navigation for the Port of Mackay.
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As the port authority for the Port of Mackay, NQBP is committed to working in the best interests of the region’s wider community and supporting a range of business enterprises through the Corporate Communities Program.
Additionally, the Port of Mackay Community Reference Group provides a community engagement forum for discussing issues relevant to operations, development and planning activities within the Port of Mackay.
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While sustainable development of the port is essential to the region’s prosperity, so is care and consideration of our environmental and cultural heritage. Twenty-six species of special conservation significance have been recorded on port lands, and many waterways are affected by port activities.
NQBP has programs in place to ensure we meet our environmental management obligations and our responsibility for the long-term safeguarding of natural resources.
Do business with the Port of Mackay
Join other organisations that have entered into integrated, cost-efficient contracts with us, and capitalise on the trade opportunities of our cutting-edge ports.