Bundaberg, severely hit by massive floods brought by ex-tropical cyclone Oswald in early January, has recovered. On Wednesday, after more than five months forced suspended operations, one of Queensland's biggest sugar exporters was able to export the raw commodity again.

Its first sugar shipment for the year left Bundaberg port on Wednesday afternoon for Mackay.

Authorities were forced to close Bundaberg port after the devastating January floods washed debris into the river and ultimately washing away too navigational aids ships need to operate.

"The January floods damaged the shipping channel and navigation markers, stranding180,000 tonnes of last season's sugar crush in storage," David Crisafulli, Queensland community recovery and resilience minister, said.

"I think everyone will be buoyed that we have our port open," Jason Pascoe, Bundaberg port manager, said.

"It's a huge boost in confidence for our community who rely on this port to get their product to market."

About 180,000 tonnes of 2012's sugar crops were forced to sit in storage sheds when authorities decided to close the port to work on its dredging and rehabilitation.

Operators spent a total of $1.8 million on dredging 337,000 cubic metres of sand, including three metres of silt, removing a sunken pontoon, and replacing navigational beacons.

But operators said the port's re-opening and first sugar shipment doesn't mean the work's done. Actually, there's still more sand needing to be dredged.

Authorities had to work double time to reopen the port since it's the sugar harvesting season again in Bundaberg.

"The restoration of the Port's infrastructure and the arrival of the Celine means this region is open for business again in time for this year's crush," Mr Crisafulli said.

Celine, with a carrying capacity of around 11,000 tonnes, is only one third the size of usual cargo ships used. Authorities are still limiting the size of ships able to enter Bundaberg port. Celine will make 11 trips to Mackay.

"This is just to get going and then we'll see what the conditions are from there and we maybe will be able to get a larger ship in," Damian Ziebarth, Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) general manager of operations, said.

"We would like to get back to full normal operations soon."

The January 2013 floods not only gave knee-deep waters to Queensland. It also resulted to water shortage problems, disrupted delivery of food and other vital supplies as well as cut off the gas supply to Bundaberg.