PORT of Melbourne reported a decline in total container throughput in March – driven by declines in both import and export containers, and a big decline in empty container movements.
According to the latest trade statistic from the Port of Melbourne, it saw a decline of 6.9 per cent in total container throughput in March, compared with the same month last year. March 2022 saw a total of 270,564 TEU (both full and empty).
The port said total container exports decreased 7.5 per cent on March 2021, with less fresh fruit, scrap metal and wheat being exported through the port, according to Australia’s Daily Cargo News.
And container imports decreased 6.3 per cent in the period, driven by decreases in imports of miscellaneous manufactures, furniture and metal manufactures.
However, full container transshipments showed an increase over March 2021 – they were up 42.4 per cent.
Total empty container movements were down 18 per cent on March 2021 to 63,665 TEU over this past March.
