Big news Treble for Cattle Industry
Port Alma, Darwin Port, Feeder Steer $3.40
Big money out of Darwin $$$$$$$.
$3.30 to $3.40
Feeder steers now a record $3.40 a kilogram (out of Darwin).
This will have exporters running around 24/7 trying to fill orders.
It was not that long ago we were saying it might get to $3.00
Back in May this year it was reported that Heavy steers to Vietnam (over 450 kilograms) are fetching up to $2.50/kg, compared to feeder steers to Indonesia (under 350 kilograms) which have eased in price to around $2.40/kg.
Chief Minister Adam Giles announced yesterday
That the Port of Darwin will have a new operator under an agreement signed today with the Landbridge Group worth $506m for 99 years.
Landbridge Group is a privately owned Chinese group that operates a 30 million tonne per annum port in
North Haizhou Bay in Shandong province, strategically located between Beijing and Shanghai. Landbridge is in the process of expanding its port capacity to in excess of 200 million tonnes per annum - more than 65 times the current volume at the Port of Darwin.
Under the terms of the agreement the Territory will lease the Darwin Port land and facilities of East Arm Wharf (including the Darwin Marine Supply Base) and Fort Hill Wharf to Landbridge Group for 99 years.
The Territory will retain Stokes Hill Wharf, Fisherman's & Hornibrook's Wharves and Frances Bay facilities.
It will also retain a range of oversight and regulatory functions including the Regional Harbourmaster role and (through the independent Utilities Commission) responsibility for price and access regulation.
Senator Matt Canavan Gets the nod Live X out of Port Alma
The importance of Port Alma for future live cattle exports has been acknowledged by the federal Senate today.
The upper house of the Australian Parliament passed a motion by Rockhampton-based Senator Matt Canavan noting the approval of Port Alma as a live cattle export facility and the benefit of providing new export options to producers and the cattle industry in Central Queensland.
"The Senate voted overwhelmingly in support of the motion," Senator Canavan said. "The vote was 45 to 10 in favour. Only the Greens voted against it. The Greens would still ban live export of cattle, given half a chance."
Senator Canavan said that lowering transport costs by providing local export options in addition to the highly important processing industry will deliver better returns to Central Queensland cattle producers by giving access to more markets.
"Around a quarter of all the cattle exported from Townsville come from Central Queensland and producers bear the costs of trucking them north. Port Alma gives them a much closer facility with much lower transport costs."
Senator Canavan said Port Alma was "set to go" for local live cattle exports.
