PORT of Melbourne saw a slowdown in container throughput in April, with a total of 255,193 TEU crossing the wharves, according to the latest trade statistics from the port.

This total container throughput was a decrease of 5% on April 2021, with year-to-date volumes down 1.6%.

Total container imports decreased by 4.2% on April last year.

Full overseas container imports decreased by 2.5% over the period, with imports of miscellaneous manufactures, metal manufactures and textiles all down.

Total container exports from Melbourne also decreased, they showed a 6.1% decrease on April last year.

Full overseas container exports fell 9.8% in April, compared with the same month last year, with containerised exports of fresh fruit, scrap metal, pulp and waste paper and milk down on April 2021 volumes.

The port said container trade for early May is tracking below the same month last year.