WA wharf turns away ships carrying harvest machinery

Industrial action at Fremantle is threatening to blow out ag machinery delivery dates, and derail a bumper grains harvest season.

Industrial action at some ports in Australia has caused ships to be diverted to other locations, piling pressure on an already stretched shipping supply chain. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Paul Jeffers

While much of Australia’s cropping country is by and large looking at a great harvest, machinery supply is proving a difficult hurdle to clear in some areas.

Unfortunately, recent wharf activity (or lack thereof specifically due to an industrial dispute) in Western Australia is now part of some lengthy delay equations that have been exacerbated by Covid and price hikes in international freight costs.

While some dealerships report adequate supplies of harvesters, just a week or so ago, ships carrying harvesters and other ag machinery were turned away from wharves at Fremantle.

Ag machinery freight business Wallenius Wilhelmsen (WWL) has been forced to divert at least three shipments to other ports recently. WWL said the ongoing dispute between Qube Ports and the Maritime Union of Australia continues to disrupt its shipping services in the Port of Fremantle.

WWL added that the dispute had been ongoing for 11 weeks and was now causing significant supply chain disruptions, with vessels being diverted to other ports.

WWL is looking at contingencies for other vessels to be diverted as well.

“We are exploring all opportunities available to us, with the main focus on minimising customer impacts, and greatly regret this challenging situation for our customers” said Kim Buoy, SVP logistic services Wallenius Wilhelmsen Oceania.

The dispute between the MUA and Qube Ports only involves the Port of Fremantle in WA as WWL’s operations at all other Australian ports continue normally.

The TMA has been highlighting similar problems with wharf disruptions for two years now and while diverting ships is a short-term solution, it will no doubt add pressure to eastern states’ capacity, which have their own Covid challenges.

Meanwhile, machinery sales continue to power on with tractor sales running 30 per cent ahead of last year with the month of September another outstanding one across the nation.

Beginning in NSW, which has been on a positive run for nearly 18 months now, up 32 per cent for the month and now 50 per cent ahead year to date, Queensland was again strong up 46 per cent, now up 28 per cent year to date and Victoria was up 10 per cent and is 16 per cent up year to date.

Sales in Western Australia recorded another strong rise with a 45 per cent lift for the month in preparation for what promises to be a bumper harvest season now 35 per cent ahead for the year. South Australia was up 12 per cent for the month and Tasmania finished 25 per cent ahead. Sales into the Northern Territory enjoyed a 125 per cent rise.

All performance reporting categories have enjoyed strong rises for the year, however the under 40hp (30kw) range was up just 13 per cent in August due to ongoing supply challenges but remains 17 per cent ahead of last year.

The 40-100hp (30-75kw) range was again up strongly 38 per cent in the month, now 3 per cent up year to date, the 100-200hp (75-150kw) category was up 12 per cent to now be 24 per cent ahead year to date. The large 200hp-plus (150kw-plus) range had another strong rise up 92 per cent and now sits 69 per cent ahead of last year.

Sales of combine harvesters are presently very strong now up 33 per cent on last year.

Baler sales were down again and remain 4 per cent behind last year’s outstanding season. Finally, sales of out-front mowers are still strong, up 11 per cent year to date.