BRISBANE-based economic consultancy NineSquared has measured substantial growth in landside port charges in the course of 2024 and foresees more of the same without the policy or regulatory response recommended by the ACCC.

“From our recent update of our Landside Port Charges Index, we found that landside port charges across Australia’s capital cities have continued to grow, with container terminal access charges increasing by a national average of 21% over the previous year,” NineSquared said.

“Stevedore ancillary and penalty charges increased by 26% and 37% respectively while empty container park access charges increased by 17% across Australia.”

Following amendments to the Victorian Voluntary Pricing Protocol by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning last year, the three Victorian-based container terminals have aligned their landside pricing tariffs to commence from 1 January each year. Patrick Terminals and DP World Australia have also adopted these protocols for their terminals in Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle.

Notices of price increases were issued by the three stevedores in late 2024, and increases came into effect on 1 January 2025. In summary, for the stevedores who have increased their charges, Terminal Access Charges have increased by an average of 9% for full imports and 6% for full exports.

“This is growth is lower than was witnessed last year when the three stevedores increased their TAC import and export charges by 22% and 23% respectively between 2023 and 2024. Average TACs in Sydney and Brisbane are likely to increase further this year once Hutchison announce their price changes for 2025. Similarly, Adelaide’s average TAC is missing as Flinders Ports have yet to announce price changes for this year. 

“Individual ancillary and penalty charges have also increased, by approximately 6% and 8% respectively. As with TACs, growth in these charges has been lower than last year when the three stevedores increased their charges by 41% and 32% respectively.”

NineSquared found of the cities impacted by these initial changes in charges, Brisbane has seen the greatest increase in TACs (12% since last year), followed by Sydney (8%). Penalty charges have seen the greatest increase in Melbourne (up 10% since last year), while ancillary charges have seen a consistent increase of approximately 7% in all cities.

The consultancy says this has the following consequences for this year’s Landside Port Charges Index as compared to 2024:

  • The access indices have increased by an average of 4%.
  • The penalty indices have increased by an average of 5%.
  • The ancillary indices have increase by an average of 5%.

“The indices are likely to increase further for 2025 as some stevedores operating in Australia have yet to announce changes in pricing,” NineSquared said.

Acknowledging the ACCC’s recent Container Stevedoring Monitoring report, the consultancy observed:

“Several industry groups such as the Freight & Trade Alliance, International Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of Australia and the Container Transport Alliance Australia are now calling for governments to create a mandatory code for stevedore landside charges, overseen by an appropriate regulatory body.”