PORT of Melbourne’s January was busier than the same month last year for container throughput, but the port handled fewer containers than the last month of 2018.
According to the latest available trade statistics from the port, total container throughput was 254,665 TEU in January 2019. This was a 1% decrease on the previous month (during which the port handled 256,572 TEU), but a 7% increase on the same month last year (the port handled 237,881 TEU in January 2018).
Taking a closer look at container trade last month, Melbourne’s full overseas imports came to 115,108 TEU, and full overseas exports were 50,126 TEU.
Trade with the Apple Isle totalled 16,250 TEU of full containers, 6419 TEU of which were imports across Bass Strait, and 9831 TEU were exports.
Mainland coastal trade totalled 6236 TEU of full containers; 979 TEU were imports and 5257 TEU were exports.
What was in all these full containers? Well, I’m glad you asked. Port of Melbourne reports its top containerised commodity to cross the wharves was miscellaneous manufactures, followed by furniture, electrical equipment and metal manufactures.
Melbourne’s total trade in empty containers in January was reported to be 66,945 TEU. Over the month, the port handled 28,551 motor vehicles, which equates to 492,000 revenue tonnes.
