CBH expands Mingenew grain site as record harvests drive storage demand
The cooperative will add 270,000 tonnes of storage capacity at its key Mingenew receival site to support growers and improve grain handling efficiency.
AUSTRALIA – CBH Group has announced plans to expand its Mingenew grain receival site in Western Australia, adding 270,000 tonnes of permanent storage capacity as growers continue to deliver larger grain volumes across the region.
The project will increase total storage capacity at the site to 710,000 tonnes and strengthen operations at one of the most important locations in CBH’s export supply chain. The cooperative said the investment will help replace lower-specification storage while supporting growers in the Mingenew catchment area.
The upgrade includes the construction of seven open bulkhead storages that will provide the additional 270,000 tonnes of capacity. CBH will also install two new 500-tonne-per-hour auger pit and conveyor loading systems to serve the new storage areas. Other works include replacing the existing sample hut with a dual spear Type 11 sample hut, increasing available spears from two to three, as well as improving drainage, power infrastructure and site amenities.
CBH said the project will improve receival efficiency and provide more reliable permanent storage at its largest upcountry receival site in Area 2. The company expects the upgraded infrastructure to reduce dependence on lower-specification storage and seasonal workarounds while helping trucks move through the site more quickly during harvest periods.
“For growers, that means greater confidence the site can continue to perform during larger and faster harvests, helping reduce delays and minimize standing crop risk at peak times,” said Colette Newton, Geraldton Zone Manager for CBH.
The investment forms part of CBH’s wider network development plan under its Path to 2033 Strategy, which focuses on increasing capacity, efficiency and grower service across the grain handling network.
“Mingenew is a critical site in our Geraldton Zone network, and this investment is about ensuring we can continue to support growers with reliable, efficient receival capacity now and into the future,” said Nelson Aylmore, Head of Network Planning for CBH.
“By installing permanent storage, upgrading in-loading equipment and improving sampling and traffic flow, this project will help make harvest more efficient for growers while also strengthening the performance of the wider network.”
The announcement follows a record 2025/26 harvest season for CBH. The cooperative received 24.2 million tonnes of grain, exceeding its previous record of 22.9 million tonnes by more than 6%.
Growers delivered nearly 20 million tonnes within just over six weeks, while 45 receival sites recorded their largest harvests on record. The strong season highlighted growing pressure on storage and logistics infrastructure and reinforced the need for continued investment across the network.
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