Australian iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group Ltd achieved a new export benchmark in September as a result of the overall lift in operational productivity.
According to a company statement, throughout the month the team at Herb Elliott Port loaded 25 vessels, including four vessels which carried over 200,000 mt, totalling more than 4.3 million mt of iron ore exported, more than in any other month in Fortescue's two-and-a-half year production history.
Fortescue Port operations manager Tony Swiericzuk said the team was now focused on beating its September record and achieving in excess of 4.5 to 5 million mt per month. He said the result was an incredible achievement given the port had been in operation barely two years.
"Six months ago we regarded the loading of 20 ships as an excellent month. Now we have achieved 25 ships a month and we have our sights set on building on that figure," Mr Swiericzuk said.
A Fortescue port productivity improvement program is currently being undertaken to ensure that the Fortescue port team can achieve and sustain the company's 55 million mt per annum targeted expansion throughput from the existing port and rail infrastructure.