T-Ports

What T-Ports does

T-Ports is a South Australian port infrastructure and transhipment company founded in 2018 that builds and operates shallow-draft export terminals for grain and bulk commodities. The company pioneered the farmer and private equity partnership port model in South Australia, with its flagship Lucky Bay port on the Eyre Peninsula followed by Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula (completed 2023), alongside bunker storage sites at Lock, Kimba, and Lucky Bay providing approximately 500,000 tonnes of combined storage capacity. Core operations rely on the MV Lucky Eyre, an 87-metre self-propelled transhipment vessel with 3,500-tonne capacity that transfers grain from shallow-draft port terminals to Panamax-size ocean-going vessels anchored five nautical miles offshore, eliminating the need for major jetty structures and deep-water port construction.

The company earns revenue primarily through transaction-based port handling and shipping fees on grain throughput, with growers acquiring equity stakes in ports through multi-year throughput commitments (seven years cited for Lucky Bay). T-Ports serves two primary customer segments: regional grain growers on the Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula who benefit from reduced freight distances, multiple competing grain buyers (ADM, Louis Dreyfus, Australian Grain Export, Flexi Grain, Clear Grain Exchange), and equity participation in port infrastructure; and grain traders/buyers who gain access to additional export capacity and new growing regions. The company has also expanded into mineral and timber transhipment services, leveraging its floating harbour terminal technology for iron ore, graphite, kaolin, sand, fertiliser, and woodchip exports, with stated capacity up to 35 million tonnes per annum.

Digitally, T-Ports offers a Grower Portal and mobile application enabling real-time transaction tracking, stock-level monitoring, and weigh-note transfers, alongside value-add services such as Active Binning for grain quality optimisation and an On Farm Storage Program. The business has secured $130 million in private equity from ICAM and Duxton Asset Management, plus a $50 million collateralised senior term loan facility from Arowana, and reached a 1 millionth-tonne throughput milestone in November 2022, approximately 2.5 years after first exports from Lucky Bay.

Name

T-Ports

Legal name

T-Ports Pty Ltd

Website

https://tports.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

T-Ports is a South Australian port infrastructure company that designs, builds, and operates shallow-water transhipment terminals and bunker storage for grain, mineral, and bulk commodity exporters, primarily serving Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula growers and global grain traders via its MV Lucky Eyre vessel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Logistics Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE)

Keywords

• Grain export logistics
• Transhipment port operations
• Bulk commodity handling
• Port infrastructure services
• Grain storage facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Adelaide

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Port Handling and Storage Services: T-Ports charges port handling fees for receiving, storing, and managing grain at its bunker sites and port facilities. Storage capacity includes approximately 500,000 tonnes combined at Lucky Bay and Lock sites, with additional capacity at Wallaroo and Kimba.
2. Shipping and Transhipment Services: Revenue from shipping charges for loading grain onto transhipment vessels and transferring to ocean-going vessels. The MV Lucky Eyre transhipment vessel handles loading operations 5 nautical miles offshore.
3. Grower Throughput Contracts: Growers acquire equity in ports through ongoing throughput commitments over multi-year periods (7 years mentioned for Lucky Bay), creating recurring throughput-based revenue as growers deliver grain to T-Ports facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

T-Ports is a port infrastructure and transhipment company that designs, builds, owns, and operates shallow-draft port facilities for grain and bulk commodity exports. The company provides port handling, grain storage, and transhipment services at its Lucky Bay port (Eyre Peninsula), Wallaroo port (Yorke Peninsula), and upcountry bunker sites at Lock and Kimba, using the MV Lucky Eyre transhipment vessel to transfer grain from shallow-draft port terminals to deep-water ocean-going vessels offshore.

Product overview

T-Ports is a South Australian port infrastructure and transhipment company offering a comprehensive supply chain solution for grain and commodity exports. The company's core offering consists of shallow-draft port facilities (Lucky Bay on Eyre Peninsula and Wallaroo on Yorke Peninsula), upcountry bunker storage sites at Lock, Kimba, and Lucky Bay with approximately 500,000 tonnes combined capacity, and the MV Lucky Eyre transhipment vessel that transfers grain to deep-water vessels. Supporting digital tools include the T-Ports Grower Portal and mobile app for real-time transaction and inventory management. Additional services include Active Binning for quality optimization, On Farm Storage incentives, and partnerships with multiple grain traders for competitive marketing. The company utilises transhipment technology to position port infrastructure close to product origin, reducing supply chain costs for regional growers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lucky Bay Port Port handling and export facility on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula featuring shallow-draft transhipment technology, approximately 24,000 tonnes of grain silo storage, and 360,000 tonnes of bunker storage. Designed for grain growers in the Eyre Peninsula region as an alternative to long-distance grain haulage to distant deep-water ports.
• Wallaroo Port Port facility on Yorke Peninsula featuring steel silos with 20,500 tonnes of grain capacity, a 500-metre rock causeway, and bunkers with up to 340,000 tonnes of storage capacity. Serves grain growers in the Yorke Peninsula and Mid North regions as their local export pathway.
• Bunker Storage Sites Upcountry grain storage facilities at Lock, Kimba, and Lucky Bay providing combined approximately 500,000 tonnes of temporary grain storage capacity to receive and consolidate grain prior to port export. Available for grain growers across Eyre Peninsula and upper Eyre Peninsula regions.
• Transhipment Services (MV Lucky Eyre) Bespoke 87-metre, 3,500-tonne capacity self-propelled transhipment vessel that transfers grain from shallow-draft port terminals to deep-water ocean-going vessels up to Panamax size anchored five nautical miles offshore. Provides shipping and transhipment services for grain exporters and grain traders.
• T-Ports Grower Portal and Mobile App Web-based portal and mobile application (iPhone and Android) enabling grain growers to view transactions, monitor stock levels in real time, and manage weigh-note transfers for fast payment processing. Mobile-friendly interface with dedicated app available.
• Mineral and Bulk Commodity Transhipment Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 million tonnes received from growers by November 2022
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Grain Trade AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025T-Ports Pty Ltd is a Corporate member of Grain Trade Australia for Financial Year 2025/2026, with all grain received in line with GTA and industry standards.
• Narungga Nation Aboriginal CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2022Indigenous Land Use Agreement negotiated for Wallaroo port development, bringing development and career opportunities to traditional landowners of the Yorke Peninsula region.
• Allied Grain SystemsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 8 January 2022Builder of the Wallaroo grain export facility contracted for construction of steel silos and port infrastructure.
• Barngarla Determination Aboriginal CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2021Historic agreement providing Barngarla people with shareholding in Lucky Bay port through Indigenous Land Use Agreement, representing first South Australian port with First Nations ownership.
• HarvestCominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2021Partner in complementary and interdependent sales, supply and operational agreements for timber transhipment from Kangaroo Island.
• Mitsui Bussan Woodchip OceaniaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2021Partner in timber transhipment agreement for Kangaroo Island woodchip exports using MV Lucky Eyre vessel from Kingscote facility.
• Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers (KIPT)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2021Timber company whose salvaged wood products from fire-affected plantations will be transhipped via T-Ports from Kangaroo Island, providing path to market for timber exports.
• Clear Grain ExchangeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 November 2019Independent online grain exchange enabling growers to offer grain at their price to all buyers with secure settlement process ensuring sellers retain ownership until paid.
• Eyre Peninsula Freight GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2019Consortium of local freight companies with more than 40 trucks providing grain transportation between T-Ports operations, supporting local businesses and communities.
• Flexi GrainminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2019Marketing partner offering Collaborative Export Program to T-Ports growers, accessing true global values for Eyre Peninsula grain through direct export parcels.
• ADM (Archer Daniels Midland)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Major global grain trader actively pricing at T-Ports sites and purchasing grain. One of world's largest agricultural processors and transporters, providing market access for T-Ports grain exports.
• Sea Transport CorporationcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018Naval architect firm whose transhipment vessel design (STS 3500) forms the basis of the MV Lucky Eyre vessel. Design successfully operating in northern Australia before adaptation for South Australian grain exports.
• AhrensminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Local construction company managing the 358-hectare Lucky Bay port site and contracted for mechanical and civil design of port facility.
• Lucas Total Contract SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Local contractor constructing Lucky Bay bunker sites as part of port development project.
• Buttrose EarthmoversminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Earthworks contractor working on Lucky Bay port construction and Lock bunker site development.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Viterra: Largest grain handler in South Australia operating Port Lincoln and other regional port terminals with deep grower relationships and established buyer network. Direct competitor for EP/YP grain receivals and export throughput.
• CBH Group: Australian grower-owned cooperative operating grain receival, storage and export port infrastructure across Western Australia. Closely comparable grower-equity business model and bulk grain export operations.
• GrainCorp: ASX-listed agribusiness operating grain storage, handling and export port terminals across eastern Australia. Comparable business model of receiving, storing and exporting grain through port infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Cargill: Global agribusiness giant with significant Australian grain origination and trading operations. Overlaps as a potential buyer at T-Ports sites and competes broadly for grain export volumes.
• Bunge: Global grain trader and processor operating in Australian grain markets. Comparable in providing offshore buyer competition for Australian grain exports flowing through regional ports.
• ADM (Archer Daniels Midland): One of the world's largest agricultural processors and traders, actively posting prices at T-Ports sites. Represents both a customer relationship and a comparable global grain trading platform.

Regional players

• Flinders Ports: South Australian port operator managing multiple commercial ports in the state. Comparable regional port operator competing for adjacent bulk commodity and infrastructure opportunities.
• Port of Portland: Victorian regional port handling bulk agricultural and forestry exports. Comparable regional Australian bulk commodity port with similar shallow-water operating constraints.

Emerging players

• Sea Transport Corporation: Naval architect and transhipment vessel operator whose STS 3500 design underpins T-Ports' MV Lucky Eyre. Deep technology overlap in shallow-draft transhipment and adjacent operating geographies in northern Australia.

Others

• Arowana: Specialist asset manager providing T-Ports' $50M senior debt facility and broader capital partnership. Adjacent financial sponsor enabling T-Ports' infrastructure build-out rather than a direct operational peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tportsaus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCt9cb5XOA8wfD8wkFWANFjA
• Facebookfacebook.com/TPortsAus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/t-ports
• Instagraminstagram.com/tportsaus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about T-Ports