The port was established in 1976 as a bulk port to export 26 millions tonnes of coal per annum for the first 10 years. It is the largest port in South Africa in terms of hectares, and has a large portion of undeveloped land for future development. It has six cargo handling terminals, and commodities handled include coal, granite, sulphur, aluminium ingots, alumina, woodchips, ferrochrome, bulk liquids and forestry products. The port will spend R5.4 billion over the next 7 years on infrastructure development.