PORT of Brisbane has reported high container throughput numbers for May.
According to the latest statistics from the port, Brisbane handled 137,181 TEU over the course of last month, an increase of 23% over the same month last year.
This was driven by increases in imports and exports, as well as empty containers.
Total imports were up 18.6% in May on the same month last year to 64,651 TEU. Total exports were up 28.6% to 63,398 TEU. And, total empty container throughput was up by 37.7% to 39,394, making fresh Queensland air by far the biggest single containerised commodity to cross the wharves at Brisbane last month.
Imports of household items were up by 36.9% to 7423 TEU, FAK imports were up 152% to 5741 TEU, and building product imports were up by 15.4% to 6328 TEU.
Containerised timber exports took a hit and were down 82% to 1054 TEU, cotton exports were up 228% to 2024 TEU and other exports were up 12.5% to 13,070 TEU.
Turning to total trade through the Port of Brisbane – containerised and non-containerised – we find the port’s total throughput in May was 2.5 million tonnes, an increase of 20.7% on the same month last year.
Growth in exports drove this increase. The port exported just over 1 million tonnes of cargo for the month, an increase of 52.9% on the same month last year.
Total imports were also up, but less so. The port reported total imports at 1.4 million tonnes, an increase of 3.2%.
