Port Of Melbourne Trade Figures Declare An End To Gfc

27 July 2010

Port of Melbourne Trade Figures Declare an End to the GFC

A strong trade surge in the second half of financial year 2009-10 has seen total container trade through the Port of Melbourne increase by 3.7% to 2.237 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) in the full year to 30 June, Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) announced today.

Total trade increased 5.5% to 75.4 million revenue tonnes, boosted by the strong contributions of the container and new motor vehicle trades, confirming Melbourne's status as the pre-eminent national market leader in these cargo sectors by volume.

The total number of loaded containers shipped to and from the port increased by a robust 6.4% to a record level of 1.8 million TEU. Empty container movements declined 6.3% to 435,000 TEU.

Reflecting the relative strength of the export sector, loaded export containers increased at a greater rate than loaded import containers growing by 8.6% and 7.2% respectively over the previous year.

Total non-containerised trade increased 6.7% to 21.1 million revenue tonnes, with new motor vehicles the largest contributor to the growth surge.

The new motor vehicle trade bounced back strongly after the GFC to record massive growth of 27.4% to 375,000 units, amounting to the port handling over 1000 cars day on average.

"The trade rebound was clearly evident in our strongest January to June period on record with an average monthly growth rate of 15.8% on last year's volumes", PoMC Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Bradford said.

"As the largest container port and motor vehicle facility in Australia, we believe our trade performance is a good barometer for the overall strength of the domestic economy which appears in good shape.

"Trade has now returned to the level it was at before the impact of the global financial crisis and on the strength of these figures we believe the recent downturn may have passed.

"Despite a subdued trade performance last financial year, the average annual growth rate in the container trade has been a very robust 6.3% over the last decade", Mr Bradford said.

Summary of Port of Melbourne trade results:

* Total trade increased 5.5% to 75.4 million revenue tonnes

* Total container throughput increased 3.7% to 2.237 TEU

* Total loaded containers increased 6.4% to a record 1.8 million TEU

* Total non-containerised trade increased 6.7% to 21.1 million revenue tonnes

* New motor vehicle trade increased 27.4%, amounting to 375,000 units. Imports increased 34.8% to 251,000 units while exports were also strong increasing 14.6% to 124,000 units.

Rebounding trade - total container trade volumes January to June 2010

January - up 12.2% to 174,000 TEU

February - up 23.7% to 188,000 TEU

March - up 13.1% to 188,000 TEU - a record for the month of March

April - up 9.1% to 182,000 TEU

May - up 15.2% to 192,000 TEU

June - up 21.7% to 187,000 TEU

Average monthly growth rate of 15.8% for the period January to June 2010.

Total cumulative container throughput of 1.11 million TEU for the period January to June 2010.


For more information contact:
Name: Peter Harry, Head of Corporate Relations
Mobile:+61 (0)407 323 749
Email: [email protected]
Fax: +61 3 9683 1573


SOURCE: Port of Melbourne Corporation