LDC is preparing to use the Barney Port Terminal to export pulses and grain. Photo: Port of Gladstone

LOUIS Dreyfus Company is preparing to begin bulk exports of grain and pulses from the Port of Gladstone, with operations expected to start in the current quarter.

The enterprise will bring competition to the Central Queensland bulk grain export market, where GrainCorp via its Gladstone and Mackay terminals is currently the only operator.

The move follows LDC’s role in facilitating the first bulk chickpea export from the Port of Townsville, signalling the company’s growing presence in exports north of Brisbane.

LDC Australia chief executive officer and head of grains and oilseeds Australia David Johnson said the company was “advancing plans to establish a receival site at the Port of Gladstone’s Barney Point Terminal, to facilitate efficient grain intake ahead of vessel loading”.

He said the move would target chickpea exports before moving into other commodities.

“Conducted in close collaboration with the Gladstone Port Corporation, this initiative will enable LDC to begin bulk exports of pulses and grains – starting with chickpeas – while evaluating further potential to diversify export pathways for Central Queensland growers,” Mr Johnson said.

“LDC’s investment in Gladstone will further support Australian farmers through expanded logistics, greater operational efficiency and increased export opportunities to global markets for pulses and grains.

“While the initial focus is on chickpeas, there is potential to expand to other commodities such as wheat and sorghum in the future.”

Owned by the Gladstone Port Corporation, Barney Point had primarily exported coal until 2016.

Since then, the facility has been focused on calcite and woodchip exports.

Competition welcomed

The LDC venture will provide direct competition in Gladstone to GrainCorp, which exports via its Auckland Point Terminal.

Also in CQ, family company Sizer & Cogill owns a 100,000t bunker storage at Mt McLaren, north of Clermont, and has a  container-packing and bulk facility in Townsville.

AgForce Grains president Brendan Taylor said this move by LDC could only be a positive for growers in CQ.

“Anything that encourages competition in the marketplace, whether it’s from port access to a new trader in the market, is a good thing,” Mr Taylor said.

“It gives growers another option, which is great.”

He said the operation would also be welcome if it helped cut the distance some commodities need to travel to reach port.

“It would be welcome if it potentially puts money in growers’ pockets from reducing the freight bill.”

A total of more than 150,000 tonnes of chickpeas and about 93,000t of sorghum was exported out of the Port of Gladstone for the 2024 calendar year.

All of the sorghum was exported to China, while India took the majority of chickpeas, followed by Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The exports for 2025 so far have seen a sharp reduction in chickpea exports, with one cargo of 12,682t heading to India.

In total, 80,788t of sorghum was exported to China, while over 55,339t of wheat went to Myanmar.

GrainCorp’s Gladstone terminal is set to load another 40,000t of chickpeas in coming weeks, with potential for more to be added before the end of the year.

LDC is also expected to be a volume exporter of chickpeas out of Brisbane terminals in coming months, as it was last season.

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