Strong trade growth continues through the ports of Sydney

Total container throughput for year to date (YTD) March 2007/08 were 1.3 million TEUs, an impressive 8.7 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Container trade in March increased by 12.1 per cent to 144,000 TEUs compared to the same period last year.

Total full imports increased significantly by 10 per cent to 668,000 TEUs. The leading import regions remained unchanged from East Asia (46 per cent), Europe (16 per cent) and South East Asia (15 per cent), which combined account for 77 per cent of total full container imports through the ports of Sydney.

Total full exports also increased by 1.4 per cent recording 282,000 TEUs. This was driven by higher demand of iron and steel and chemical products from South East Asia.

The leading containerised exports in TEUs through the ports of Sydney for YTD March 2007/08 were chemical products, machinery and transport equipment and miscellaneous manufactures.

These increases were partially offset by the decline in agricultural products such as cotton (43.3 per cent), cereals (23.4 per cent) and animal foods (19.2 per cent) compared to previous YTD. This decline was primarily a result of the drought ravaged 2006/07 season.

Empty container exports increased by 7.7 per cent to 373,500 TEUs compared to the same period last year.

Non - containerised imports for YTD March 2007/08 increased by 5 per cent to 10.6 million mass tonnes as a result of an increase in refined oil imports.

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