# Fremantle Port industrial dispute holds up farm machinery worth millions - ABC News

> Millions of dollars worth of farm machinery bound for Fremantle Port was diverted to eastern ports because of an ongoing industrial dispute between QUBE and the Maritime Workers Union. Three ships carrying 44 harvesters and 31 tractors are not expected to arrive in time for the WA harvest, which is tipped to be the state's biggest ever. Growers fear they will lack machinery when they need it.

- Date: 2021-10-06 · published 2021-10-06T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region Australia · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/44570-fremantle-port-industrial-dispute-holds-up-farm-machinery-worth-millions-abc
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Ocean Grain Freight](https://feedsoft.ai/c/OCEANFRT.md), [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md)

## Why it matters

Delayed harvest equipment could slow WA grain harvesting and logistics, adding cost and some timing pressure to local grain movements. The effect on global prices is limited because the disruption is regional.

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEAT | 2025-01-08 | [Grain industry may be hit by MUA and Qube Ports dispute \| Farm Online \| ACT](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26509-grain-industry-may-be-hit-by-mua-and-qube-ports-dispute-farm-online-act.md) | -0.2% | +3.6% |
| WHEAT | 2017-04-25 | [PN industrial action costing Vic grains sector millions \| Farm Online \| ACT](https://feedsoft.ai/events/71505-pn-industrial-action-costing-vic-grains-sector-millions-farm-online-act.md) | +3.6% | +2.1% |
| WHEAT | 2024-01-23 | [Industrial dispute between union and DP World costing '$84m' a week amid calls for government intervention - ABC News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32142-industrial-dispute-between-union-and-dp-world-costing-84m-a-week-amid-calls-for.md) | -0.1% | -5.5% |
| WHEAT | 2025-08-27 | [Industrial action set to hit Kwinana grain port all next week \| Farm Online \| ACT](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23327-industrial-action-set-to-hit-kwinana-grain-port-all-next-week-farm-online-act.md) | +0.1% | -0.9% |
| WHEAT | 2021-06-28 | [Farmers caught in middle of Port Botany wharf dispute - again \| NSW](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46600-farmers-caught-in-middle-of-port-botany-wharf-dispute-again-nsw.md) | -0.2% | -3.7% |

## Sources

- abc.net.au: https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-10-06/-industrial-dispute-holds-up-farm-machinery-worth-millions/100516032

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.