Rio Tinto employs new freight shipping service for Pilbara iron ore operations

Rio Tinto said Feb. 18 that it employed a new commercial freight shipping service linking its Pilbara iron ore operations in Western Australia to Singapore through an agreement with Global Logistics Toll Group.

Service through the Port of Dampier to the Port of Singapore will provide the company with a quicker, cleaner and more cost-effective alternative to its current freight delivery route via Perth, and will aid regional economic development and local job creation, the mining giant added.

Compared to freight via Fremantle, lead time for goods via Singapore will be deducted by six to 10 days. In addition, the change in shipping hubs will result in a yearly saving of around 3 million liters of diesel fuel through the reduction of over 3.8 million kilometers of road train travel from Perth.

The initial shipment from Singapore arrived at the Port of Dampier on the same day. Over time, the company expects to meet more than half of its freight requirements to the Pilbara through the new service.