Newcastle Glencore charges “too high”
(Posted on 11/10/18)
Newcastle should reduce by 20% its current charge for ships entering the port, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has ruled.
The ruling followed a dispute between Glencore Coal Assets Australia and Port of Newcastle Operations about terms and conditions for accessing the shipping channel.
In a statement published online, the ACCC determined PNO should reduce its charge for ships entering the port to carry Glencore’s coal by around 20% to $0.61 per gross tonne.
Port of Newcastle chief executive Craig Carmody expressed disappointment at the ruling. “We will use all legal avenues available to contest the decision,” Carmody said, “We will be lodging a request for review with the Australian Competition Tribunal.”
According to the ACCC statement, Port of Newcastle is the only commercially viable means of exporting coal from the Hunter Valley region.
In January 2015, PNO increased the charge for coal ships entering the port by about 40% to $0.69 per gross tonne. In November 2016, Glencore notified the ACCC of a dispute with PNO about the price increase and requested arbitration from the ACCC to arbitrate. PNO later increased the charge to its current 2018 price of $0.76 per GT.
According to the ACCC, a key part of the dispute was whether PNO should be able to charge for dredging of the shipping channel that had been undertaken or funded by users of the port.
“PNO proposed large increases to the current price, but the ACCC found that a reduction in the price for using the shipping channel was appropriate,” ACCC commissioner Cristina Cifuentes said. “The ACCC also determined appropriate mechanisms for future price changes, and decided on certain non-price terms and conditions of access where the parties had been unable to reach an agreement.”
Latest News
Rotterdam throughput falls in first nine months of 2025
(Posted on 04/11/25)Total throughput in the port of Rotterdam fell slightly by 2.6% in the third quarter of 2025 compared... Read more
Bayan, Indonesia, reaches 100,000 operating hours
(Posted on 04/11/25)E-Crane Asia has announced a major milestone achieved by Bayan in Indonesia: the company’s three... Read more
Teesport automated weighbridges boost bulk cargo efficiency
(Posted on 27/10/25)PD Ports has successfully introduced fully automated weighbridge systems at Teesport and Hartlepool,... Read more
Mixed picture for Antwerp-Bruges in volatile trade climate
(Posted on 24/10/25)In the first nine months of 2025, Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled 202.6 million tonnes of maritime goods... Read more
NPRC presents strategic course at 90th anniversary assembly
(Posted on 20/10/25)The 90th General Assembly of the inland shipping cooperative NPRC has highlighted the importance of... Read more
Bilbao leads in transparency among Spanish ports
(Posted on 17/10/25)The Bilbao Port Authority has obtained the highest score in the second evaluation of the Mandatory Information... Read more
Embassy reception highlights Hamburg – Czech Republic partnership
(Posted on 14/10/25)The economic and logistical ties between the Czech Republic and Hamburg were brought to the attention... Read more
Italian ports expand capabilities with Liebherr
(Posted on 08/10/25)Liebherr has dispatched four additional mobile harbour cranes to Italy, reaffirming its role in the... Read more
Euroports celebrates 25-year Terminal Rinfuse Venezia concession
(Posted on 08/10/25)Euroports, Europe’s largest port infrastructure operator, has celebrated its new strategic 25-... Read more
PhilaPort acquires 152-acre Mustin Yard
(Posted on 07/10/25)PhilaPort has announced that it has acquired the Mustin Yard Property from Norfolk Southern Corporation... Read more
