The Port of Mackay has recorded a steep increase in breakbulk cargo movements, with trade volumes rising more than 187% during the 2025–26 financial year. Driven by growing movements of heavy mining machinery, oversized equipment and project cargo, the result reveals the increasing demands placed on the stevedoring and logistics operations supporting Central and North Queensland’s industries.
According to North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP), breakbulk volumes increased from 28,514 tonnes in 2024–25 to 82,007 tonnes in 2025–26. The growth was mostly attributed to cargo like mining trucks, truck trays, accommodation units and other specialist equipment for growing regional industries [1].
Overall, the Port of Mackay handled approximately 3.5 million tonnes of cargo throughout the financial year, compared with 3.4 million tonnes in the previous year, despite poor weather conditions affecting operations [1].
Increase in Heavy Machinery and Project Cargo
Unlike conventional containerised freight, breakbulk cargo often includes machinery, structural components and oversized equipment that cannot be accommodated within standard shipping containers. These shipments require specialised lifting equipment, careful stowage planning and coordinated discharge operations.
The Port of Mackay is particularly well positioned to handle this due to its proximity to the Bowen Basin and the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector concentrated around Mackay and Paget [3].
By the end of January 2026, the port had handled more than 60,000 tonnes of breakbulk cargo across 14 vessel calls, compared with 11 breakbulk vessel calls during the entire previous financial year [4].
For stevedoring operators such as NSS, handling diverse cargo types requires considerable flexibility in both personnel and equipment. With an established presence at Mackay and other regional Queensland ports, NSS has specialist capabilities across breakbulk, project cargo, bulk commodities and other freight types [2]. These capabilities support the movement of cargo that often requires more than a conventional discharge operation, with planning extending from the vessel through to storage, handling and onward transport.
Managing Increasingly Complex Cargo Movements
Heavy machinery and oversized equipment often require significant coordination between shipping agents, stevedores, port operators and road transport providers.
Before cargo can be discharged, factors like weight, dimensions, lifting arrangements, vessel configuration and equipment availability must be considered. Once ashore, further planning may be required for temporary storage, cargo securing, biosecurity inspections, cleaning and road transport.
These considerations are particularly important for North Queensland, where heavy machinery discharged at regional ports may need to travel considerable distances to reach mining operations and industrial sites.
Biosecurity and Customs Requirements
For imported machinery and project cargo, discharge from the vessel is often only one stage of the process. Depending on the cargo’s origin, condition and import requirements, equipment might also need to undergo biosecurity inspections, cleaning or treatment before it can be released for onward transport.
Heavy machinery presents particular biosecurity challenges due to the potential presence of soil, seeds, plant material and other contaminants. Equipment used in agricultural, mining or construction environments can have contamination lodged in tyres, tracks, undercarriages and other difficult-to-access areas.
Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has strict requirements for managing these risks, with imported machinery potentially requiring inspection or treatment at an approved arrangement facility before receiving biosecurity clearance [5].
At Mackay, NSS operates AQIS-approved facilities, including washdown and inspection capabilities for imported machinery, containers and other equipment. These facilities allow cargo requiring biosecurity intervention to be inspected, cleaned and managed under the appropriate departmental requirements [6].
Customs clearance is another consideration. Section 77G of the Customs Act 1901 provides for licensed depots where imported goods can be held under Customs control before release or further processing. NSS also provides Customs 77G depot services as part of its wider cargo-handling operations [7].
Supporting North Queensland’s Supply Chain
The Port of Mackay’s latest results show the important role regional ports play in connecting Queensland’s mining, agricultural and industrial sectors with domestic and international markets.
For established operators working within these ports, increasing cargo diversity places continued importance on experienced personnel, reliable equipment and effective coordination across the supply chain.
With more than 50 years of experience providing stevedoring and associated logistics services throughout regional Queensland, NSS continues to support cargo movements at Mackay, Townsville, Gladstone, Cairns and Weipa [2]. The substantial growth in Mackay’s breakbulk trade, alongside strong results across its agricultural and bulk commodity sectors, shows the scale and diversity of freight moving through the region and the importance of the port services that keep it moving.
References
[1] North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (2026). Port of Mackay’s Big Trade Year for Mining and Agriculture.
https://nqbp.com.au/about-us/news/articles/port-of-mackays-big-trade-year-for-mining-and-agriculture
[2] Northern Stevedoring Services. Stevedoring.
https://www.nsspl.com.au/stevedoring/
[3] North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation. Trading Through Mackay.
https://nqbp.com.au/trade/trading-through-mackay
[4] North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (2026). Agriculture and Breakbulk Lift Mackay Trade.
https://nqbp.com.au/about-us/news/articles/agriculture-and-breakbulk-lift-mackay-trade
[5] Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Conditions for Operating Approved Arrangements.
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/arrival/arrangements/requirements
[6] Northern Stevedoring Services. AQIS Approved Depot.
https://www.nsspl.com.au/aqis-approved-depot-qap1-1/
[7] Australian Government. Customs Act 1901, Section 77G – Depot Licences.
https://www.legislation.gov.au/C1901A00006/latest/text
Image Credit: North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP). The Höegh Australis at Berth 3, Port of Mackay. September 3rd, 2026.