Port of Melbourne volumes rise 5 per cent in February

March 30, 2026

The Port of Melbourne recorded a 5.2 per cent year-on-year increase in container throughput in February 2026, handling 276,000 TEUs.

Full container import volumes (excluding Bass Strait traffic) reached 110,000 TEUs, rising by 1.9 per cent compared with the same month last year.

Meanwhile, full container exports totalled 59,000 TEUs, reflecting more stable outbound demand following earlier volatility.

The uplift in volumes points to a modest recovery in containerised trade flows, supported by steady import demand across key consumer and industrial goods segments.

READ: Port of Melbourne sees container volumes slide 9.8 per cent

Across non-containerised cargo, total trade reached 2.02 million revenue tonnes, representing a 7.6 per cent year-on-year decline in February 2026.

The drop suggests continued pressure on bulk and breakbulk segments despite improving container performance.

The latest figures indicate a shift in momentum following weaker results earlier in the year, with container volumes showing resilience even as non-container trade remains subdued.

In February, International Container Terminal Services Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary Victoria International Container Terminal Ltd., secured a 26-year extension to operate and manage the Webb Dock East terminal at the Port of Melbourne, extending the contract to 2066.