QUBE Holdings has emerged on the farm sector radar as a major driving force behind the new Quattro grain loading facility at Port Kembla.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
The small but busy logistics group, which has rail and road freight units, plus stevedoring operations at 29 ports around Australia, was formed by about 150 former staff at Patrick Corporation after that business sold to Toll Holdings in 2006.
Listed as a public company the following year and later renamed Qube, it has considerable mineral freight and port activities around Australia, particularly in Western Australia, but also handles rice in Melbourne.
Company spokesman Paul White said the business recognised there was a lot of grain handling capacity in eastern Australia, including Port Kembla (pictured), but the fact the Quattro deal came together suggested there were opportunities to improve the efficiency of the pipeline.
"There's obvious frustration with other arrangements," he said.
"We focus on improving the efficiency of logistics and see opportunities to reduce costs along the grain supply chain."
Mr White said it was too early to specify exactly how much the Quattro deal might cut graingrower freight costs to port.
Andrew Marshall
National agribusiness writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
National agribusiness writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
