PORT of Melbourne’s June total container throughput numbers showed an increase of 7.2% on the same month last year, according to the port’s most recent trade statistics.
A total of 275,761 TEU (both full and empty) crossed the wharves last month.
The port cited a strong increase in empty container movements as the biggest factor in the result.
Overseas imports were flat for the month, compared with the same month last year, increasing by 0.2%.
Full overseas container exports showed a decrease of 10.6%. The port noted a significant decrease in timber, with barley the strongest commodity over the period.
Also, the port said the comparison of volumes to last year may be influenced by weather conditions in late May last year which forced several vessel visits into June 2020.
Empty container movements were up a whopping 37.5% on June last year.
And trade with the Apple Isle was up. Full containers on the Bass Strait trade, excluding transhipments, increasing 24.2% on last year, to a total of 18,152 TEU last month.
Container trade through the port in July so far is tracking above the same month last year.
