PORT of Melbourne has posted an increase in container throughput for September 2024, up 6.4% against September last year.
The port handled 284,000 TEU in September, with full container imports up 11.1% and full exports up 5.5% (excluding Bass Strait). Full Bass Strait volumes increased 2.8% against September 2023.
Imports of furniture, domestic appliances and paperboard were all above last September’s levels, as were exports of cotton, timber, hay, chaff and fodder, and wheat.
The most notable increase was in full transhipments, which jumped 21.2% in September 2024.
Empty container movements were down 2.6% against the prior year’s volumes.
Non-container trade figures were all below levels seen in September 2023, with total revenue tonnes dropping 20.5%.
The largest decrease was in the breakbulk trade, which plunged 55.4% in September.
Dry bulk was down 1% and liquid bulk was down 6.5%.
The motor vehicle trade, measured in units, dropped 31.9%, and other non-container trades decreased 15.9%.