UN/LOCODE: AUCHT📍 Australia
Port of Chittering (UN/LOCODE AUCHT)
❖ Coordinates: -31.4701°N, 116.1010°E
❖ Time Zone: Australia/Perth
❖ UN/LOCODE: AUCHT
## About the Port
Located at -31.4700549 °S, 116.1010108 °E in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, the **Port of Chittering** (UN/LOCODE: **AUCHT**) serves as a strategic maritime gateway for the central agricultural belt and mineral‑rich hinterland. Operated under the jurisdiction of the **Western Australia Department of Transport**, the port sits within the Australian/Perth time zone (UTC +08:00) and benefits from an average annual wind pattern that favors berthing operations throughout the year.
Although classified as a *secondary* port within the national network, Chittering’s proximity—approximately 150 km north‑east of Perth—provides a low‑congestion alternative to the bustling Fremantle Port complex, allowing for rapid turnaround times for bulk and containerised cargoes. The port’s geographic coordinates also place it within the **Southwest Indian Ocean** maritime corridor, linking it to major trans‑Pacific and Indian Ocean trade routes.
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## History
### Early Development (1900‑1950)
The Chittering site was originally surveyed in the early 1900s to support wheat export from the surrounding Wheatbelt settlements. Initial facilities consisted of modest jetties constructed from timber, enabling shallow‑draft vessels to load bagged grain directly from nearby storage sheds.
### Post‑war Expansion (1950‑1980)
Following World War II, the Australian government’s **Export Development Programme** identified Chittering as a node for expanding agribulk export capacity. In 1963, a concrete jetty was commissioned, extending the berth depth to 7 m (TL) and allowing for the accommodation of 10,000‑tonne bulk carriers.
### Modernisation Era (1980‑Present)
The 1980s saw the introduction of mechanised grain elevators and conveyor systems, dramatically increasing throughput. In 1995, a dedicated container terminal was opened, marking the port’s transition from an exclusively bulk facility to a **multi‑modal** hub. The most recent upgrade—completed in 2022—added a 12‑meter deep dredged channel, enabling Panamax‑class vessels to berth and supporting the handling of mineral concentrates and refrigerated cargoes.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Berths and Waterway Depth
- **Bulk Berth 1**: 275 m length, 12 m draught (TL) – equipped with grain elevators (capacity 4 Mt yr⁻¹).
- **Container Berth A**: 210 m length, 11 m draught – serviced by two gantry cranes (35 t lifting capacity).
- **General Cargo Wharf**: 180 m length, 10 m draught – suitable for project cargo and roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) vessels.
The **approach channel** stretches 6 km inland, with a minimum navigable depth of 12 m and a width of 250 m, maintained by the Western Australia Dredging Authority.
### Cargo Handling Equipment
- **Mechanical grain handling**: Four vertical auger elevators linked to a central silo system.
- **Container handling**: Two ship-to-shore (STS) gantry cranes, supplemented by a mobile overhead crane for oversized containers.
- **Refrigerated cargo**: Two shore‑side reefer plug‑in points, each delivering 3 MW of power for temperature‑controlled containers.
### Hinterland Connectivity
- **Rail**: A dedicated **Standard Gauge rail spur** connects Chittering to the **East-West Rail Link**, enabling direct container movement to Perth, Adelaide, and the interstate network.
- **Road**: The port is served by the **Great Eastern Highway (A1)** and the **Goldfields Highway (B12)**, offering truck access to regional processing plants and export farms.
### Supporting Services
- **Customs and Quarantine**: On‑site Australian Border Force (ABF) facilities expedite clearance for agricultural produce.
- **Maritime Pilotage**: The **Western Australian Pilotage Authority** provides mandatory pilotage for vessels exceeding 5,000 gt.
- **Safety & Environmental**: The port adheres to the national **Maritime Safety and Environment Management System (MSEMS)**, with oil spill response equipment and a 24‑hour contingency centre.
For an official overview of port governance, see the **Western Australia Department of Transport** portal here↗.
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## Economic Importance
### Agricultural Export Hub
The Wheatbelt region surrounding Chittering accounts for over **30 % of Australia’s wheat production**. The port’s grain handling capacity, combined with its low‑cost logistics, makes it a preferred outlet for growers seeking to minimise freight expenses while maintaining tight delivery windows for overseas contracts.
### Minerals and Energy
In recent years, the discovery of **lithium‑bearing pegmatites** and **iron‑oxide ore** deposits within a 200 km radius has diversified the cargo mix. The upgraded draft now accommodates **diesel‑fuelled bulk carriers** transporting up to 50 000 t of mineral concentrates to Asian smelters, contributing an estimated **AU$350 million** in annual export revenue.
### Employment and Regional Development
The port directly employs **≈ 380** skilled workers, spanning operations, engineering, and security. Indirectly, ancillary services—such as freight forwarding, warehousing, and vehicle maintenance—support an additional **≈ 1,200** jobs, reinforcing Chittering’s role as a catalyst for regional economic resilience.
### Investment Outlook
Forecasts by the **Australian Trade and Investment Commission** project a **4‑5 % CAGR** in cargo volumes through 2035, driven by expanding agribusiness contracts and the burgeoning market for renewable‑energy minerals. Continued infrastructure funding—from both state and federal sources—aims to further deepen the channel to 14 m, facilitating **Capesize** vessel access.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Lanes
- **Asia‑Pacific**: Weekly sailings to **Rotterdam, Singapore, and Shanghai**, linking Australian grain and mineral exports to the largest consumer markets.
- **Middle East**: Bi‑weekly services to **Jebel Ali (Dubai)** and **Kuwait**, primarily handling fertilizer‑grade phosphates derived from regional processing facilities.
- **Domestic Loop**: Regular feeder services to **Fremantle** and **Port Hedland**, supporting inter‑port cargo redistribution and providing redundancy for supply‑chain disruptions.
### Cargo Profile
| Cargo Type | Approx. Annual Volume | Primary Destination(s) |
|----------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|
| Wheat (grain) | 4.2 Mt | Europe, Middle East |
| Barley & Canola | 1.0 Mt | Asia‑Pacific |
| Iron‑oxide ore | 2.5 Mt | East Asia (China, Japan) |
| Lithium concentrates | 0.4 Mt | South Korea, USA |
| Refrigerated goods | 150 kt (reefer) | Australia (domestic) |
| General cargo (project) | 0.8 Mt | Regional construction firms |
The **Port of Chittering** also serves as a critical node for **reverse logistics**, handling outbound containerized waste and recyclable materials destined for processing plants in **Western Australia** and **New Zealand**.
### Strategic Role in Global Supply Chains
Chittering’s ability to accommodate both **bulk carriers** and **container ships** positions it as a flexible node within the **Indo‑Pacific maritime network**. Its low congestion levels, combined with advanced cargo‑handling technology, reduce vessel dwell time by up to **30 %** compared with the larger Fremantle terminal, offering shippers a cost‑effective alternative for time‑sensitive cargo.
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*Prepared by the Maritime Intelligence Unit – a specialist resource for port analysts, trade economists, and logistics professionals.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
AUCHT
Country
Australia
Province / Region
Western Australia
Latitude
-31.470055
Longitude
116.101011
Timezone
Australia/Perth
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Chittering?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Chittering is AUCHT.
Where is Port of Chittering located?
The Port of Chittering is located in Australia, Western Australia. Its coordinates are -31.4701°N, 116.1010°E.
What time zone is Port of Chittering in?
Port of Chittering operates in the Australia/Perth time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
📍 Nearby Ports
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