Australia's Mount Isa rail line remains shut after three locomotives and a wagon carrying zinc and copper derailed on 5 December.
Repairs are underway and all freight is being held until further notice, Australian rail operator Queensland Rail told Argus on 8 December.
The derailed freight was carrying zinc and copper from Glencore's operations in Mount Isa and there was no major spillage, Glencore said.
The last closure of the railway was caused by torrential rains in February and lasted for 11 days.
The railway runs around 900km east to Townsville from Mount Isa transporting mainly fertilizer, concentrates and cement.
Australian fertilizer distributor Incitec Pivot uses Townsville port to export ammonium phosphate fertilizers from the 769,000 t/yr Phosphate Hill manufacturing plant 160km south of Mount Isa. MAP and DAP exports from Townsville reached 443,900t in January-October, Australian Bureau of Statistics data show.
Australian phosphate producer PRL made its first shipment of phosphate rock since acquiring the 650,000 t/yr Ardmore mine via the port of Townsville.
