The Bunbury Port Authority says it would be logical for cto become Western Australia's second major container port, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The authority is hoping to establish an interim container facility by the end of the year with a view to building a more permanent facility in the future.

The authority's chief executive, Kevin Shellack, says the facility would increase export opportunities for new industries.

"There's 150,000 containers that are moving from our region that do go out through Fremantle today ... obviously we're not looking to take all of those containers, certainly not in the interim period. The facility will provide new shippers and importers with a direct line of containers in and out of the port," she said.

Shellack says the port would not rival Fremantle but would simply complement it.