The three Pilbara ports (Hedland, Dampier and Walcott) exported 420 million tonnes of iron ore in 2011. The combined DEC of these ports is projected to grow by almost 350 per cent from $1.85 billion to $8.28 billion over the period to 2031. This is an exceptionally strong rate of increase, even in the national context, resulting from forecast growth in iron ore exports, which are projected to increase at an average annual rate of 6.9 per cent.
Liquefied Natural Gas is another important trade in the Pilbara, which is set to grow significantly in coming years.
Other ports are smaller. Esperance handles iron ore and grain, Albany handles wood chips and grain, and Bunbury handles alumina, woodchips and caustic soda imports. Geraldton handles iron ore and grain, and Broome handles petroleum imports, livestock exports, and services the offshore oil and gas industry.