Overview

• Port Hedland, a critical hub for Australia’s iron ore exports, resumed operations after a four-day closure due to Cyclone Zelia, with estimated economic losses exceeding $1.2 billion.
• Flooding from record-breaking rainfall has cut off the Great Northern Highway, leaving towns like Broome with empty supermarket shelves and disrupted supply chains.
• Experts warn the cyclone's economic ripple effects could reach $4.8 billion globally due to the interconnected nature of maritime trade and supply chains.
• Pastoral stations and inland communities, including Marble Bar, report significant property damage and ongoing isolation, with cattle losses expected in flood-affected areas.
• Authorities have activated freight subsidy schemes and rerouted supplies through alternate routes to restock essential goods in impacted regions.