Ports of Auckland reports on quarterly trade

8 October 2009
 
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
 
 
Ports of Auckland reports on quarterly trade volumes and trends
 
Container volumes at Ports of Auckland during the July-September quarter were 208,812 TEU (20-foot equivalent container units), up seven percent on the April-June period.
 
Managing Director Jens Madsen said that while some of the increase could be attributed to normal seasonal fluctuations, the overall trend was heartening.
 
“In particular, we are seeing a gradual increase in full import container volumes. This is a good sign as we head in to the traditional busy import season ahead of Christmas,” said Mr Madsen.
 
“We anticipate a similar trend with export volumes over the coming months.”
 
Despite the positive signs, container volumes remain below 2008 levels with total TEU for the July-September quarter down five percent year-on-year.
 
Trans-shipment volumes, where containers destined for on-shipping to other New Zealand ports are routed through Auckland, were up eight percent for the quarter compared to 2008.
 
Car volumes, as well as break-bulk (non-containerised) and bulk volumes, were up 14.8% and 9.0% respectively from the April-June 2009 quarter, but were down 29% and 33% compared to last year.
 
Mr Madsen said the economic downturn had put increased cost pressure on the global shipping industry, prompting ongoing changes to shipping line services.
 
“Unrelenting cost pressures have seen the large international shipping lines run much leaner operations over the last 12 months.  Lines have also cut back on capacity, reducing the number of ships calling New Zealand and the number of available container slots.
 
Mr Madsen said one effect of the changes had been the consolidation of a number of direct import calls at Ports of Auckland, as shipping lines implemented vessel sharing arrangements similar to airline industry code sharing.
 
“There are clear time, cost and environmental benefits to discharging imports direct at the Auckland seaport, instead of routing import cargo from other ports via rail to the Auckland market,” Mr Madsen said.
 
“These efficiencies, combined with sustained productivity improvements at Ports of Auckland over the last two years, are behind our recent import call wins.”
 
Mr Madsen said he expected volatility in the international shipping market to continue and remained cautious about the overall volume outlook for 2009/10.
 
ENDS

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