The DEC of WA's ports is projected to grow strongly from $4.85 billion in 2011 to $15.31 billion in 2031, an increase of more than 200 per cent.
In 2014, WA's eight port authorities were consolidated into five, including the Southern Ports Authority, Mid West Ports Authority, Kimberley Ports Authority and the Pilbara Ports Authority. The existing standalone Fremantle Port Authority is the fifth.406 The aim of this consolidation was to improve the authorities' ability to undertake strategic development planning at the regional level and to better manage the risks associated with the operation of ports and shipping.
Capacity at WA's ports has been expanded substantially following the mining boom. Table 68 shows the throughput of the ports in 2012-13. New or improved facilities developed or in the pipeline include projects at Dampier, Port Hedland and Anketell.407
Table 68: Western Australia port tonnages - 2012-13
| Total Throughput (mass tonnes) | Containerised trade in TEU | |||||||
| Port | Imports | Exports | Total | Total as % | Imports | Exports | Total | Total as % |
| Fremantle Ports | 14,030,544 | 17,949,694 | 31,980,238 | 2.83% | 343,900 | 326,382 | 670,282 | 9.36% |
| Esperance Ports | 841,071 | 13,033,973 | 13,875,044 | 1.23% | 16,290 | 16,431 | 32,721 | 0.46% |
| Broome Port Authority | 239,696 | 49,874 | 289,570 | 0.03% | 2,069 | 2,370 | 4,439 | 0.06% |
| Port Hedland Port Authority | 1,938,347 | 286,504,692 | 288,443,039 | 25.55% | 1,363 | 129 | 1,492 | 0.02% |
| Dampier Port Authority | 509,368 | 179,856,505 | 180,365,873 | 15.98% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Geraldton Port Authority | 632,330 | 14,812,513 | 15,444,843 | 1.37% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Bunbury Port Authority | 1,716,047 | 13,615,859 | 15,331,906 | 1.36% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Albany Port Authority | 121,412 | 3,979,222 | 4,100,634 | 0.36% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Western Australia Total | 20,028,815 | 529,802,332 | 549,831,147 | 48.70% | 363,622 | 345,312 | 708,934 | 9.89% |
Source: Ports Australia (2014a)408
However, even allowing for existing spare capacity, the projected growth in DEC for both the Fremantle and Pilbara ports indicates a need for additional infrastructure. In the case of the Pilbara ports, this is likely to be met by private capital. The Port of Fremantle is held by the WA Government, although there is also significant privately owned infrastructure.
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406. Western Australian Department of Transport (2015)
407. Western Australian Department of Transport (2014)
408. State totals include small ports not specifically listed, but not Port Walcott (also known as Cape Lambert), a privately owned port which exported 85 million tonnes in 2012-13.