Andrew Catto, Global Director for Ports and Terminals at global engineering giant Hatch
The global ports and terminals director for one of the world’s leading engineering companies says Australia’s ports and terminals must modernise, and quickly, as climate change, competition and digitisation mount.Andrew Catto is Global Director for Ports and Terminals at global engineering giant Hatch, an award-winning multidisciplinary leader in engineering, operational and development projects in the metals, energy and infrastructure industries.
He forecasts a future where net-zero (with a push towards electrification), densification, digitisation and climate resilience will shape Australia’s port sector.
“The modernisation of our ports and terminals is a key piece of the puzzle in Australia’s overall drive to net-zero,” says Andrew.
“The development of a green-powered grid will have major implications for how facilities and transport systems consume and manage energy. And while it’s no mean feat, without that resilient foundation our efforts to decarbonise and electrify will fall short.”
With Australia’s ports contributing $264 billion to the nation’s economy, supporting 700,000 jobs and handling 99 per cent of the nation’s international trade,[1] Andrew warns pressure is mounting. The country’s role as a critical minerals powerhouse[2] is fuelling that urgency, particularly as global demand for minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt accelerate. This comes amid forecasts from the Australian Office of the Chief Economist that predict copper consumption will grow by 2.5 per cent in 2025 and global demand for nickel could increase 25-fold by 2040[3] as the world races to decarbonise and electrify to curb climate change.
“Ironically, these materials are being delivered through a supply chain that itself needs to decarbonise as it works to fulfil demand,” says Andrew.
“This means ports must quickly evolve from bulk commodity hubs into future-ready trade gateways – powered by smarter data use, equipped with modern infrastructure, and designed using climate adaptation strategies – to operate sustainably and to minimise supply chain disruptions.” Currently, major national hubs like Western Australia’s Iron Ore Ports, Victoria’s Port of Melbourne, New South Wales’ Port Botany, the Port of Newcastle, and Queensland’s Port of Brisbane are handling significant trade volumes. WA ports lead, managing 62 per cent of the nation’s trade,[4] driven by iron ore and natural gas exports. Queensland follows with 20 per cent, focused on coal and agriculture, while NSW ports manage 34 per cent of imports, particularly manufactured goods and petroleum.
The Port of Melbourne handles a third of the nation’s trade with trade rising by 2.5 per cent to a record 112 million revenue tonnes last year while overseas exports rose 4.3 per cent to 50.6 million tonnes.[5]
Trade volumes in both containerised and non-containerised freight markets are also tipped to rise.[6]
“This presents one of the sector’s biggest opportunities yet for growth, but it also drives a desperate need for infrastructure expansion, technology adoption and net-zero operations at both the ports and inland transportation corridors, especially across our East Coast capitals,” says Andrew.
“Major infrastructure projects like Westport, the Future of Fremantle redevelopment, and PortBris2060 are already laying the groundwork for growth.[7] The Port of Brisbane’s long-term strategy anticipates that trade volumes will double by 2050.[8]
This comes as the nation remains uniquely positioned to meet the world’s growing appetite for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt, with 47 per cent of the world’s production already coming from Australia.[9] For cobalt, Australia boasts 18 per cent of the world’s reserves yet it only produces about three per cent of the world’s cobalt.[10]
“Given we’re being pursued by major low-cost competitors such as China and Indonesia, a modernisation across our ports and terminals is now imperative,” says Andrew.
He lauded the Australian Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030 that outlines a vision to grow the sector, build resilient supply chains and enhance domestic processing capabilities by building processing facilities for minerals like lithium, nickel and cobalt.[11] But he says we need to rethink the entire logistics ecosystem as Australia’s ports rank quite low on the container port index, which measures the efficiency and performance of container ports around the world.[12]
Some major ports have ageing infrastructure and face issues such as urban encroachment and sterilisation of key transport corridors, adds Andrew, which will impact their shipping volume capacity and efficiency in the mid to long term.
“Addressing these issues through strategic planning and sustainable development is crucial. Inland connectivity, particularly through rail links and inland terminals, is a key solution,” he says.
“Both Port Botany and Port of Melbourne are also looking to transport more cargo by rail[13] as it’s a clear decarbonisation win that reduces congestion and ensures faster cargo flow. While this requires significant capital investment, it also eases pressure on highways and bridges.
“With the right partnerships and forward-thinking strategy, we can create resilient, future-ready ports that drive economic growth and support global sustainability goals.”
About Hatch
Hatch is passionately committed to the pursuit of a better world through positive change. With more than 65 years of experience, Hatch is a leading global services firm specialising in mining and metals, energy, infrastructure and digital technologies. The company draws on more than 10,000 specialist employees in 150 countries, and offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Wollongong and Newcastle to tackle some of the world’s toughest challenges. s. Visit Hatch.com.
[1]https://www.portsaustralia.
[2]https://www.afsic.net/
[3]https://www.industry.gov.
[4]https://cdn.prod.website-
[5]https://www.
[6]https://www.
[7]https://www.wa.gov.au/
[8]https://www.portbris.com.
[9]https://www.nasdaq.com/
[10]https://
[11]https://www.industry.gov.
[12]https://www.fullyloaded.
[13]https://www.seatrade-
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