CONTAINER throughput volumes at Port of Melbourne were down in February this year comTrade pared with the same month in 2022.

A total of 219,606 TEU crossed the wharves in February 2023, an 18% decline on February last year.

The port said year-to-date container volumes are consistent with those recorded in the previous year.

Full overseas imports were down 28.9% on February 2022 with miscellaneous manufactures, furniture, metal manufactures, domestic appliances, textiles, and paperboard, all below last year’s levels.

And full overseas exports were down 4.4% on February 2022, with hay and fodder, pulp and wastepaper, and dried milk all below last year’s levels.

Total empty container movements were 21.1% below what they were in February 2022.

Looking ahead, Port of Melbourne said its container trade for March 2023 is tracking below the comparative month in 2022.