Pilbara Data & Insights
Your centralised hub for 2026 port trade trends, multi-year tourism indicators, detailed demographic and geographic population splits, renewable energy pipelines, Indigenous business procurement, environmental telemetry, coastal tides, emergency safety notices, and regional economic intelligence.
Regional Port Tonnage & Export Statistics (2026)
Understanding the Data: The metrics and monthly timelines below track gross tonnage throughput (measured in millions of tonnes, or Mt) across the Pilbara’s major state-managed shipping hubs — specifically the Port of Port Hedland, and the Ports of Dampier and Ashburton, as managed by the Pilbara Ports Authority, current for the 2026 calendar year.
These figures serve as a real-time economic pulse, measuring the volume of raw commodities leaving our coast for international markets.
Why these exports matter to the world
The Pilbara is globally renowned as a primary powerhouse for bulk commodity extraction:
The vast majority of the tonnage leaving our ports is high-grade iron ore. This raw ore is shipped directly to steel mills across Asia and around the world, forming the foundational metal skeleton used to build global infrastructure — from skyscrapers, railways, and bridges to manufacturing plants and urban developments.
Alongside iron ore, the region exports massive quantities of liquefied natural gas (LNG), salt, and emerging clean energy materials, powering international industrial grids.
The scale of these exports generates substantial national wealth, significantly bolstering Australia's terms of trade, supporting high-value regional and national employment, and helping fund public infrastructure and services.
Review the latest 2026 monthly throughput figures and 6-month historical trends for our key coastal ports below:
Port of Port Hedland (2026)
Primary Commodity: Iron Ore (46.9 Mt)
Latest Volume (October 2026)
48.2 Mt
▲ Steady Growth (+3.4% YTD)
2026 6-Month Historical Throughput Trend (Millions of Tonnes)
Oct 2026 (Latest)
48.2 Mt
Ports of Dampier & Ashburton (2026)
Primary Commodity: LNG & Bulk (17.1 Mt)
Latest Volume (October 2026)
18.5 Mt
▲ Stable Growth (+1.8%)
2026 6-Month Historical Throughput Trend (Millions of Tonnes)
Oct 2026 (Latest)
18.5 Mt
About this data: Compiled from official 2026 monthly trade reports published by the Pilbara Ports Authority. Figures reflect gross tonnage throughput across state-managed regional ports. Updated monthly.
Regional Tourism & Visitor Statistics
Understanding the Data: The metrics below track key tourism indicators — including total visitor volumes, holiday travel numbers, total nights stayed, and overall visitor expenditure — across the Pilbara region.
Sourced from official annual research and regional visitor surveys published by Tourism Western Australia, these figures measure the scale and economic footprint of our visitor economy over time.
Why tourism matters to the Pilbara
While world-renowned for industry, the Pilbara offers extraordinary natural assets and cultural heritage that draw travelers from across the globe:
Tourism injects millions of dollars directly into local small businesses — supporting accommodation providers, tour operators, hospitality venues, and retail hubs across Karratha, Port Hedland, Newman, Tom Price, and our national parks.
Visitors come to experience the ancient red landscapes of the UNESCO Heritage Listed Murujuga Cultural Landscape, the iconic Karijini National Park, and our unique coastal environments, fostering a deeper appreciation and preservation of our shared heritage.
A thriving tourism sector helps sustain high-quality transport links, hospitality infrastructure, and vibrant community events that benefit both local residents and travelers alike.
Review the latest visitor metrics alongside past historical comparisons for the Pilbara tourism sector below:
Long-Term Visitor Economy Trajectory (Historical Comparison)
| Key Tourism Indicator |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 (YTD / Est) |
Growth Trend |
| Total Visitors |
378,000 |
391,600 |
412,000 |
▲ +5.2% |
| Holiday Visitors |
180,000 |
188,200 |
198,000 |
▲ +5.2% |
| Total Visitor Spend |
$485M |
$512M |
$540M |
▲ +5.5% |
| Total Nights Stayed |
2.8M |
2.95M |
3.1M |
▲ +5.1% |
| Avg Length of Stay |
7.4 Nights |
7.5 Nights |
7.5 Nights |
— Stable |
About this data: Tourism metrics and visitor profile summaries are derived from regional tourism research and annual visitor survey data published by Tourism Western Australia, comparing historical performance up to 2026.
ABS Regional Population, Demographics & Employment
Understanding the Data: The metrics below track regional population growth estimates (totalling 68,400 residents distributed across the region's core local government areas), workforce composition, employment splits, and cultural diversity/languages spoken across the Pilbara statistical division for 2026.
Sourced from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) regional census releases and labour force surveys, these figures highlight community growth, employment distributions, and linguistic diversity.
Resident Population & Geographic Distribution
Total Residents (Region-Wide):68,400
City of Karratha:~26,200
Town of Port Hedland:~16,100
Shire of Ashburton (Tom Price/Onslow):~14,300
Shire of East Pilbara (Newman):~11,800
Annual Growth Rate:▲ +2.1%
Median Age:33 Years
Employment Types & Labour Force
Labour Force Participation:68.6%
Employed Full-Time:73.0%
Employed Part-Time:18.0%
Unemployment Rate:3.2%
Languages & Cultural Diversity
English Only Spoken at Home:78.5%
Indigenous Languages Spoken:Multiple Traditional Languages
Overseas Born Residents:~18.2%
About this data: Compiled from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) regional population growth estimates, local government area profiles, Census employment indicators, and cultural diversity datasets.
Renewable Energy & Green Hydrogen Pipeline
Understanding the Data: Tracking giga-scale clean energy installations, solar/wind farms, and green hydrogen/ammonia infrastructure investments driving the Pilbara's net-zero transition in 2026.
Sourced from Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) WA major project registrations and Clean Energy Regulator updates.
Clean Energy Capacity
Approved Renewable Cap:14.5 GW
Active Mega-Projects:6 Major Hubs
Pipeline Investment Value:~$45 Billion
Decarbonisation & Export Focus
Primary Vector:Green Hydrogen & Ammonia
Mining Electrification:Advanced Integration
Target Export Date:Late 2020s
About this data: Compiled from Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) WA major project updates and Clean Energy Regulator registries for 2026.
Indigenous Business Procurement & Native Title Frameworks
Understanding the Data: Tracking traditional owner land stewardship, registered Indigenous Business Enterprises (IBEs), and regional procurement participation across the Pilbara in 2026.
Sourced from Supply Nation regional indices, Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), and state land tenure frameworks.
Enterprise & Procurement
Registered IBEs (Pilbara):145+ Active Entities
Annual Procurement Value:$320 Million+
Core Sectors:Civil, Services, Environmental
Native Title & Land Stewardship
Native Title Determinations:Over 85% Region Coverage
Active Ranger Groups:12 Indigenous Ranger Teams
Cultural Heritage Management:Jointly Managed Frameworks
About this data: Compiled from Supply Nation regional supplier registers, Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) reports, and National Native Title Tribunal records for 2026.
Weather, Climate, Tides & Environmental Telemetry
Live meteorological conditions, coastal tides, and historical monthly climate averages for current month (2026).
Karratha & Dampier Coast
Current Temp:34.2 °C
Wind Speed:18 km/h (ENE)
Next High Tide:08:42 AM (5.4m)
Next Low Tide:03:15 PM (1.1m)
Water Temp:26.4 °C
Avg Month High:34.4 °C
Avg Month Low:20.1 °C
Avg Month Rainfall:0.8 mm
Air Quality (AQI):31 (Good)
Port Hedland Coast
Current Temp:35.0 °C
Wind Speed:22 km/h (NE)
Next High Tide:09:10 AM (6.1m)
Next Low Tide:03:40 PM (0.8m)
Water Temp:27.1 °C
Avg Month High:34.0 °C
Avg Month Low:20.2 °C
Avg Month Rainfall:1.0 mm
Air Quality (AQI):28 (Good)
Newman
Current Temp:36.5 °C
Wind Speed:15 km/h (E)
Avg Month High:34.2 °C
Avg Month Low:18.5 °C
Avg Month Rainfall:5.1 mm
Air Quality (AQI):25 (Good)
Tom Price
Current Temp:31.8 °C
Wind Speed:19 km/h (SE)
Avg Month High:31.6 °C
Avg Month Low:15.8 °C
Avg Month Rainfall:6.4 mm
Air Quality (AQI):22 (Good)
About this data: Current weather, tides, and air quality indexes (AQI) are streamed in real-time via WAQI and BOM public feeds. Monthly climate averages are sourced from historical Bureau of Meteorology tables, automatically indexed to the current calendar month.
Emergency, Road & Transport Status
Real-time emergency safety updates and Main Roads WA advisory feeds across the Pilbara region (2026).
Emergency WA / DFES Feed: No current emergency warnings or active bushfire alerts issued for the Pilbara region. Conditions are normal.
Main Roads WA Regional Feed: All major arterial routes, including the North West Coastal Highway and Great Northern Highway, are currently open under normal conditions. Drive to seasonal conditions.
About this data: Emergency safety notices are fed from Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) public feeds. Road network condition reports and closures are managed directly from Main Roads Western Australia databases.
Economic & Business Intelligence
Looking for commercial opportunities? Access our curated weekly summaries or subscribe for direct updates (2026).
Weekly Government Tender Opportunities
The Commission monitors, compiles, and centralises current and upcoming public sector procurement opportunities to save local SMEs valuable time.
View Current Tender Opportunities
About this data: Tender summaries are curated weekly by the Pilbara Development Commission local content team, sourcing open procurement records across Western Australian government channels.