A deep-sea port terminal project in South Australia, started by ABB Grain, has been finished by the company’s new Canadian owner.
Viterra on Wednesday officially opened a “state-of-the-art” grain terminal at Outer Harbour, a project launched by ABB in late 2006.
The terminal’s berth is capable of fully loading Panamax size vessels (50,000 to 70,000 deadweight tonnes) and part-loading Cape size ships (70,000 to 120,000 dwt).
Being Panamax-capable means Outer Harbor “will deliver considerable savings and largely eliminate the necessity for costly, two port loadings that were necessary when larger ships berth in Adelaide,” Viterra CEO Mayo Schmidt said in a release.
Read Also

Senft to step down as CEO of Seeds Canada
Barry Senft, the founding CEO of the five-year-old Seeds Canada organization is stepping down as of January 2026.
“We expect Outer Harbor will become the preferred grain export facility for all grain on the eastern side of St Vincent’s Gulf because of the efficiencies it delivers.”
The terminal includes automated grain sampling on arrival and automated ticket scanning and card readers for arriving trucks and rail wagons. Such systems position Outer Harbor as the most efficient port in South Australia, the company said.
The terminal is encircled by a 3.5-km rail line that allows for continuous unloading of grain from country grain sites at up to 2,400 tonnes an hour, the company said. Grain can also be delivered by road to vessel via the terminal at 800 tonnes an hour.
“Further growth”
Regina-based Viterra on Sunday also named a new senior executive for its Southern Hemisphere operations, appointing Rob Gordon as a senior vice-president with Viterra and as its president for Southeast Asia, effective immediately.
Gordon is tasked with achieving “higher performance and optimal operating efficiencies” in Viterra’s operations in Australia and New Zealand, obtained through its acquisition of ABB Grain last fall.
Gordon is also expected to work with Viterra’s executive management team to “identify and pursue further growth of Viterra’s presence in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, consistent with Viterra’s overall plans for diversification and global growth,” the company said.
Gordon’s previous post was as CEO of Sydney-based Dairy Farmers Pty Ltd., a farmer owned co-operative that’s morphed into a “leading Australian branded consumer goods company.” His resume also includes stints with Goodman Fielder Consumer Foods and Unilever.