The authority which oversees Port Hedland, which is the world's biggest bulk-export port, merged with nearby Dampier Port Authority in Australia's energy and iron ore-producing northwest, according to a statement released by the Pilbara Ports Authority.
Pilbara Ports Authority stretches from the Port of Ashburton near Onslow in the south to Port Hedland in the north and includes the proposed Ports of Anketell and Cape Preston East. The authority is responsible for the overall planning and development of the combined port lands.
According to Bloomberg, the new authority covers ports that handle about 22 percent of the world's iron ore market and 10 percent of the liquefied natural gas export market. Port Hedland iron ore shipments climbed to a record in May as miners including BHP Billiton (BHP) expanded output in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Dampier, used by Rio Tinto Group to export iron ore, has a board of management that reports to the Western Australian transport minister. Port Hedland Port Authority's board of directors is also accountable to the transport minister.