It contributed $1.1 billion to the town of Port Hedland’s economy, creating 3,581 direct and indirect full-time jobs — 44 per cent of all jobs in Port Hedland in the year — and paid almost $500 million in wages and salaries to resident workers. 

The figures are revealed in The Economic Significance of the Port of Port Hedland report compiled by ACIL Allen Consulting for the Port Hedland Industries Council.

Reinforcing the Pilbara and the Port of Port Hedland as the powerhouses of the State and national economies, the report found that Port Hedland Port Supply Chain’s economic contribution accounted for 20 per cent of WA’s Gross State Product in 2018/19.

Building on the economic value that the Port of Port Hedland delivers to the WA economy remains a primary focus for PHIC.

Steady export growth across a range of commodities including iron ore, lithium, manganese, copper, and salt predicted for the next 10 years will continue to deliver benefits locally, and to WA and Australia.

The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation’s WA economic profile for April 2020 revealed that iron ore sales increased 50 per cent, to $97.7 billion, in 2019.

WA’s iron ore sales are forecast to increase to 862 million tonnes in 2022/23.

The economic assessment of the Port Hedland Port Supply chain said iron ore exports through the port will increase from 524.9Mt in 2019/20, peaking at 547.5Mt in 2022/23 before easing to an average of 545.2Mt to 2028/29.

The assessment said growth of the port and exports over the next 10 years could deliver:

• An extra $26.2 billion of gross regional, State and domestic product.
• A potential increase in real income of $32.1 billion.
• An extra $21 billion in State and Federal taxes and royalties.
• More than 5300 extra jobs a year across Australia.
• An extra 1,072 FTE jobs a year in the Pilbara.