Australia’s Mount Isa rail line remains closed after three locomotives and a wagon carrying zinc and copper derailed on 5 December, halting mineral and fertilizer freight across the corridor.
Queensland Rail told Argus on 8 December that repairs are in progress and all freight movements are suspended until further notice. No major material loss occurred, according to Glencore, which owned the derailed cargo.
Previous Shutdown Lasted 11 Days
This line has faced disruptions before — the most recent being in February when torrential rains shut the corridor for 11 days. The current incident adds pressure to supply flows that rely heavily on the Mount Isa–Townsville route.
Key Supply Route for Fertilizer, Concentrates & Cement
The rail line stretches 900km from Mount Isa to Townsville, handling bulk cargo including:
Zinc & copper concentrates
Fertilizer and feedstock
Cement shipments
Townsville port plays a critical role in fertilizer exports. Incitec Pivot relies on the port to ship ammonium phosphate from Phosphate Hill (769,000 t/yr capacity), located 160km south of Mount Isa. Between January and October, MAP/DAP exports reached 443,900t, according to official statistics.
Phosphate Shipments Resume Through Townsville
Australian phosphate producer PRL recently completed its first export of phosphate rock from the 650,000 t/yr Ardmore mine, also using Townsville port. The Mount Isa closure places renewed focus on rail reliability for upcoming shipments.
Sources : Argus
