The Port of Melbourne has seen a 1.3 per cent growth in container volumes in February 2022 compared to the same month in 2021.
The port processed a total of 269,127 TEU in February. Total containerised imports increased 2.4 per cent while total exports also rose 0.1 per cent on a year-on-year basis.
Current year-to-date container volumes are down 0.6 per cent.
In January this year, a total of 275,940 TEU passed through the Port of Melbourne.
The port has also revealed that container trade for early March 2022 is tracking below the comparative month in 2021.
“Global demand for shipping capacity remains high, whilst there was some easing in congestion for major international ports following the Lunar New Year. Industry continues to monitor inflation and the potential supply chain impacts with China’s zero COVID-19 policy,” said the Port of Melbourne in its most recent stakeholder update.
“Australian ports continue to see shipping lines revising schedules and changing rotations in an attempt to recover time. Locally, the impacts of congestion and landside dwell time for imported containers continues to place pressure on the supply chain.”
Earlier this month, the Port of Melbourne announced major investment to expand terminal operations at Webb Dock East.
The port has confirmed that it is working to reduce port congestion, improve efficiency, and accommodate larger ships at Australia’s largest container terminal and general cargo port.
The project will involve demolishing a redundant section of concrete and extending the quay line by 71 metres.
The Port of Melbourne also made PTI’s recent list of ‘Top 5 Ports in Australia 2021‘ as it handled 3,278,635 TEU in 2021.
